31  ^^arraiive  of  the 


BATTLES 


BULL    RUN 


J 


MANASSAS  JUNCTION 


July  18th  and  21st,  1861. 


Accounts  of  the  Advance  of  both  Armies,  the  Battles,  and  the 
Defeat  and  Bout  of  the  Enemy. 


COMPILED  CHIEFLY  FROM  THE  BETMLEII  REPORTS  OF  THE  VIROIXI.V  AND  SOUTH  CAROLINA  PRESS. 


CHARLESTON : 

! T  E   \  M -  P  O  W  E  R      PRESSES      OF      E  V  A  S  S      *      COGSWELL 

Nns.3  Hioad  anil  Id?.  Kast  I5aj-  Streets. 

18G1. 


U33X 


T  K  E 

BATTLE  OF  BULL  RUN, 

Thursday,  July  18,  1861. 


PLAN  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

As  it  adds  very  much  to  the  interest  and  the  true  under- 
standing of  a  description  of  a  battle  to  have  a  correct  compre- 
hension of  the  battle-ground  and  surrounding  localities,  to  aid 
the  reader  in  sketching  an  approximate  map  of  the  scene  of 
operations  at  Manassas  Junction,  we  supply  the  following  data : 

A  line  drawn  in  a  North  and  South  direction,  and  to  repre- 
sent a  distance  of  eight  miles,  will  answer  for  the  road  from 
Centreville  to  Manassas  Junction.  Centreville  is  to  bo  marked 
doAvn  at  the  Northei-n  end,  and  Manassas  Junction  or  Camp 
Pickens  at  the  Southern.  The  road  itself  has  about  the  usual 
meanders. 

A  line  drawn  East  and  West  through  Centreville,  will  repre- 
sent the  turnpike  road  leading  from  Alexandria  on  the  East,  to- 
Warrenton  on  the  AVest.  On  this  road,  and  six  miles  East  of 
Centreville,  is  Fairfax  Court  House.  On  the  "West  of  Centre- 
ville, and  about  four  miles  distant,  the  turnpike  road  crosses 
Bull  Run,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Stone  Bridge. 

If  a  line  be  drawn  through  ^lanassas  Junction  in  a  direction 
nearly  East,  but  North  of  it,  it  will  represent  the  railroad  as  it 
leads  to  Alexandria,  which  is  distant  twenty-seven  miles.  At 
a  point  about  four  miles  from  Manassas  Junction,  the  railroad 
crosses  Bull  J{un  on  a  high  bridge. 

The  above  points  being  marked  down,  if  a  meandering  line 
be  now  drawn  from  the  Stone  Bridge  on  the  turnpike,  to  the 
railroad  bridge  above  described,  it  will  show  the  position  of 
Bull  IJun.  It  crosses  obliquely  to  the  line  of  the  road  leading 
from  ^Manassas  Junction  to  Centreville,  and  at  about  four  miles 


from  each.     Tlio  wliole  course  of  Bull  TJun  botwocMi  tlie  two 
bridges  is  inclixled  in  the  present  line  of  battle. 

Bull  Kun  is  a  pellucid  mountain  rivulet  of  small  size  in  sum- 
mer, but  liable  to  heavy  and  wide-spreailing  freshets.  Its 
course  in  the  region  we  are  noticing  is  ver}'  much  marked  by 
bluffs,  particularly  on  the  north-eastern  side.  The  fringing  of 
bottom  lands,  which  is  chiefly  on  the  south-west  side,  is  covered 
with  magnificent  oaks  and  other  forest  trees.  The  bluffs  ren- 
der the  crossing  to  Bull  Run  difficult,  except  at  occasional 
points.  The  most  favorable  of  these  is  the  point  where  the 
road  from  Centreville  to  Manassas  Junction  crosses.  The  tall 
oaks  had  been  felled  on  the  bottom  ground,  on  the  south-west 
side  of  the  Run,  leaving  the  road  but  as  an  avenue  through  the 
fallen  timber.  This  road  proved,  indeed,  to  be  the  centre  line 
of  the  enemy's  movement,  but  the  fighting  was  confined  to  the 
flanks.  They  did  not  make  their  effort  at  the  central  foi'd,  but 
sought  points  of  crossing,  chiefly  beloio  the  road,  or  on  the  side 
toward  the  railroad. 

DISPOSITION  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  FORCES. 

For  more  than  a  week  the  commanding  general  of  the  Con- 
federate forces  at  Manassas  had  been  antici])ating  an  advance 
of  the  enemy,  and  had  so  arranged  his  troops  as  to  be  prepared 
at  all  points.  At  Fairfax  Court  House,  Gen.  Bonham  was  sta- 
tioned, with  six  regiments  of  infantry,  composed  of  four  from 
South  Carolina  (Kershaw,  Cash,  Williams  and  Bacon)  and  two 
from  Virginia  (Preston  and  Withers),  with  two  batteries  of 
light  artillery  (Shield's  howitzers  and  Kemper's  company),  and 
about  five  hundred  cavalry,  under  command  of  Col.  Radford,  of 
Virginia. 

At  Fairfax  Station,  about  four  miles  distant  from  the  Court 
House,  and  on  a  line  with  it.  Gen.  Ewell,  of  Virginia,  was  posted 
with  three  regiments  of  infantry,  two  Alabama  (Siebles'  and 
Rhodes'),  and  one  from  Jjouisiana  (Seymour's).  These  regi- 
ments were  stationed  at  intervals  of  a  mile  from  each  other, 
Rhodes'  5th  Alabama  Regiment  guarding  the  l^radtlock  roa(i 
approach  from  Alexandria,  which  intersects  the  country  road 
between  the  Court  House  and  the  Station.  At  both  places, 
infantry  works  had  been  thrown  uj)  for  the  protection  of  the 
troops,  and  at  the  Court  House  partieuiai-iv,  extended  lines  of 
defence,  including  two  or  three  masked  batteries,  had  been  con- 
structed. 

At  Centreville,  a  commanding  eminence  on  the  turnpike 
road,  between  Fairfiix  Coui-t  House  and  Bull  Run,  Col.  Cocke 
was  stationed  with  his  regiment  and  Latham's  Light  Battery. 
The  object  of  these  preparations  was  to  resist  the  incursion  of 
anything  short  of  a  large  army  into  the  interior,  and  in  the 
event  of  the  approach  of  a  force  under  twenty  thousand  men, 
to  give  battle  and  drive  them  back.     At  the  same  time,  orders 


had  boon  issued,  in  case  of  an  ovorwhclmin<^  demonstration  ot' 
the  enemy,  to  fall  back  un  Hnll  Run,  the  selected  battle  groujid. 
To  provide  for  this  contingeno}',  the  troops  for  inorc  than  a 
week  past  had  been  trimmed  of  all  superfluous  baggage,  and 
been  under  orders  to  keep  on  hand  constantly  three  days'  pro- 
visions in  advance.  (Quartermaster  and  Commissary  supplies 
have  been  kept  in  limited  amounts,  and  the  wagons  held  in 
constant  readiness  to  move  off  with  camp  cquijiage,  etc. 

We  are  particular  in  stating  those  minute  details  to  give  the 
reader  an  idea  of  what  M'as  anticipated  by  the  commanding 
general,  and  of  his  arrangements  to  meet  the  contemplated 
contingency. 

THE  ATTACK  COMMKNCED. 

The  expectation  of  an  attack,  which  had  almost  died  out, 
was  revived  by  well-grounded  reports  and  suspicious  ;*^ppear- 
ances  on  Monday  and  Tuesday;  and  on  Wednesday  morning 
expectation  was  changed  into  certainty  b}'  the  booming  of  can- 
non, followed  by  the  rattling  of  small  arms  and  the  rapid  head 
of  hastening  couriers.  The  enemy  was  advancing  in-  three 
separate  columns,  of  probably'  fifteen  thousand  each — one  down 
the  railroad,  another  the  Braddock  road,  and  the  third  from 
the  direction  of  Falls  Church,  on  Fairfax  Court  House,  where 
Bonham's  Brigade  of  South  Carolinians  held  the  advance  post 
of  the  Confederate  Armj-.  They  were  firing  upon  one  of  our 
pickets.  General  Beauregard  was  hurriedly  sent  for  and  quickly 
came  to  the  scene  of  action,  when  he  ordered  the  retreat, 
which  has  proved  to  be  a  brilliant  strategic  movement.  At 
first  our  troops  were  much  displeased,  believing  the  retreat 
had  been  ordered  by  some  junior  officer;  but  when  the}-  learned 
that  tlie  order  emanated  from  their  (Jeneral-in-('liief,  they  were 
perfectly  satisfied,  having  in  him  unbounded  confidence.  Capt. 
Haile,  with  the  whole  of  his  compan}-  and  half  of  the  Brooks 
Guards,  was  on  picket  from  two  to  four  miles  from  camp,  and 
the  enemy  was  advancing  across  their  line  of  retreat  at  about 
one  mile.  From  Col.  Kershaw's  camp  (the  most  advanced), 
the  glitter  of  the  enemy's  guns  in  the  morning  sun  illumined 
hill  after  hill.  But  there  was  no  time  for  observation.  The 
"long  roll"  beat,  and  each  company  fell  promptly  into  line. 
Col.  Kershaw  gallops  in,  and  to  the  interrogatory  "  How  is  the 
picket  V  replies,  "  All  right."  Capt.  Rhett  was  ordered  to 
take  the  other  half  of  his  company  and  hold  a  house,  at  the 
intersection  of  the  two  roads,  untif  the  picket  reached  that 
point.  "The  Brooks,"  elated  at  the  prospect  of  a  fight,  and 
anxious  for  the  fate  of  their  exposed  comrades,  set  off  at  a 
brisk  rate,  and  soon  reaching  their  ])lace  of  destination,  Averc 
preparing  to  kc6p  the  Yankees  at  bay  until  the  safe  passage  of 
their  friends,  when  the  picket  arrived  at  a  double  quick.  The 
Brooks  Guards  greeted  their  captain  with  three  hearty  cheers, 


who  recalled  tliose  that  liad  been  deploj-cd,  and  the  wliole 
cohimn  (two  companies)  set  off"  to  join  the  re«;iinent.  The 
Yankees  were  then  about  a  quartei'  of  a  mile  on  the  right. 
They  reached  the  camp  just  in  time  to  join  the  re;:;inuMit  with- 
out having  a  moment  to  i)ause,  and.  therefore,  lost  most  of 
their  baggage. 


TIIK  BATTLE. 


The  battle  ground  was  u])on  both  sides  of  Bull  Run.  and  upon 
both  sides  of  the  road  leading  to  Centreville.  Here  the  enemy 
appeared  after  having  paid  their  ix'spects  to  Fairfax  ami  the 
other  positions  from  which  our  li)rces  had  fallen  ItacU,  and  here 
the}-  encountered  a  Virginia  brigade,  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Longstreet,  consisting  of  the  1st,  11th  and  17th  Virginia 
regiments,  two  or  three  comjianies  of  the  7th  Louisiana  liegi- 
ment,  Tol.  Hays,  and  the  AVashinglon  Ai-tillery  of  ^'ew  Oi"- 
leans.  The  South  Cai'oJina  and  other  regiments  which  formed 
the  advance  division,  under  Gen.  Bonham,  were  located  within 
a  shoit  distance  of  the  scene,  ready,  if  necessary,  at  a  moment's 
warning,  to  co-operate  with  the  Confederate  troops  engaged. 

The  object  of  the  enemy  was  undoubtedly  to  break  our  lines 
and  tight  the  flanks.  To  this  end  Sherman's  battery  was 
brought  forward,  and  at  a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half  opened 
a  heavy  but  ineffectual  fire,  expecting,  doubtless,  to  make  a 
breach  in  our  ranks,  through  which  their  infantry  might  enter, 
and  open  a  general  battle.  They  were  gallantly  encountered, 
however,  by  the  Washington  Artillery,  with  six  pieces,  and  in 
the  course  of  the  action,  notwithstanding  the  enemy  had  thir- 
teen guns,  served  by  United  States  regulars,  the  far  famed 
Sherman's  battery  was  completely  silenced,  and  obliged  to  re- 
tire. It  is  said,  however,  that  we  had  the  advantage  of  tiring 
up  hill,  where  neaily  every  shot  took  effect,  whereas  the  shells 
and  balls  of  the  enemy  passed  entirely  over  the  heads  of  our 
own  artillei'ists,  and  buried  themselves  in  a  ni(Mind  beyond. 

Under  the  cover  of  this  tire  McDowell  threw  forward  his 
skirmishei'S,  Avho  were  soon  after  followed  by  the  entire  attack- 
ing column.  These  took  up  thOir  position  on  the  bunks  of  Bull 
Run,  and  in  the  adjoining  fields.  Our  own  forces  were  station- 
ed immediately  opposite;  the  first  Virginia  Regiment,  Col. 
Moore,  which,  a  ])0]'tion  of  the  day,  sustained  the  brunt  of  the 
attack,  lying  flat  ujion  their  faces,  and  firing  from  the  ground. 
It  is  said  that  at  one  time  they  Avere  so  close  that  the  smoke 
from  their  muskets  envelo|)ed  each  other  almost  from  sight,  j'et 
strange  to  say,  the  wounds  caused  resulted  mostly  from  the 
falling  fraginoits  of  shells  and  not  from  musket  balls.  The 
fight  did  not  become  general  until  about  eleven  o'clock. 

At  this  hour  their  whole  front,  infantry  and  ai'tillerj'  contin- 
uing still  to  advance,  our  inlantry  also  pushed  forward  and  the 
fight  became  general. 


The  buttle  continued  with  unabated  fury  for  throe  hours, 
when,  about  two  o'ch)ck,  p.  ^r.,  the  enemy's  centre  ,i!;ivin<>;  Avay 
before  the  combined  fire  of  our  artillery  and  the  charge  of  our 
infantrv,  their  whole  force  fell  back  ]n'eci])itately  and  in  disor- 
der. But,  after  an  interval  of  an  hour,  during  which  there  was 
some  unimportant  skirmishing,  at  three  o'clock,  p.  M.,  the 
enemj-  again  returned  to  the  charge  with  redoubled  impetu- 
osit}'',  and  again,  after  severe  fighting,  were  the}'  driven  back 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

Their  third  charge  was  made,  apparently,  with  great  fury, 
and  as  if  determined  to  sweep  away  the  rebels  as  with  a  flood. 
It  was  then  that  our  artillery,  having  gained  an  a<lvantageou8 
position,  poured  upon  then\  its  most  fatal  fire,  committing  a 
havoc  tlnit  was  almost  sickening  to  look  upon.  The  enemy 
was  mowed  down,  and  fled  before  the  terrible  discomfiture  under 
the  greatest  consternation. 

After  a  pause  they  0|)ened  apparently,  from  all  their  guns,  a 
furious  fire,  directed  at  the  forest  and  hills  and  vales  in  their 
front.  They  seemed  to  think  that  surely  the  rebels  were  some- 
where, and  b}'  shooting  everywhere  they  must  hit  some  of 
them.  It  was  probably,  however,  but  the  explosion  of  their 
rage  and  mortification.  It  was  harmless  to  our  side,  and  our 
soldiers  allowed  them  to  waste  their  ammunition  unrcspondcd 
to. 

THE  RETREAT. 

It  was  now  five  o'clock,  p.  >r.,  and  the  enemy  made  no  attempt 
to  renew  the  fight,  but  retreated  hastily,  leaving  the  field 
strewn  with  the  bodies  of  their  dead  and  woiu|<led  in  possession 
of  the  Confederates.  They  were  thus  re])u7sed  twice  during 
the  fight,  but  each  time  rallied  to  the  work,  and  fought  with  a 
bravery  at  which  many  of  our  soldiers  were  surprised. 

Once  a  small  party  endeavored  to  cross  the  stream,  but  these 
were  completely  riddled,  with  the  exception  of  one  individual 
who  was  M'ounded  and  taken  prisoner.  From  him  it  has  since' 
been  learned  that  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  was  almost  com- 
pletely annihilated,  the  artillery  mowing  great  lanes  through 
the  ranks  at  every  shot,  while  the  infantr}'  dropped  them  with 
their  small  arms  by  scores  at  every  discharge. 

The  battle  had  extended  along  the  creek,  "Bull  Run,"  a 
distance  of  over  a  mile,  and  within  this  space  the  enemy  had 
left  nine  hundred  and  eighty-six  of  their  men  dead  or  mortally 
wounded.  Our  loss,  as  counted  that  night,  was  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  but  by  the  next 
morning  this  number  was  reduced  to  less  than  sixty  by  the 
return  of  stragglers,  who  had  been  scattered  and  lost  in  the 
woods  during  the  night.  The  enemy  threw  chain-shot  and 
fired  upon  our  hospital  while  the  3'cllow  flag,  which  secures 
immunity  in  civilized  nations,  was  flying,     tleneral  Beauregard 


had  a  narrow  escape,  u  l)all  haviiiij;  passed  through  tlie  kitchen 
of  a  house  where  he  was  pai'takini-;  of  diuner.  The  General 
lias  displayed  qualities  of  tlie  highest  order  as  a  military  ooiu- 
mandor,  with,  ])c'i-haps,  the  exception  of  indifference  to  his  own 
life,  now  so  valuahlc  to  the  Confederacy,  lie  exhibited  great 
coolness  during  tiic  engagement,  and  was  in  all  ])arts  of  the 
tield. 

The  famous  Shci-nian  liattery,  u]»on  which  the  (.'ncmy  evi- 
dently based  so  much  hoj)e  of  success,  was  almost  utterly  anni- 
hilated. Some  say  there  is  scarcely  a  corporal's  guard  of  them 
left.  The  First  Kegiment  of  Virginia  Volunteers,  under  Col. 
P.  T.  Moore,  is  said  to  have  fought  desperately.  Three  sepa- 
rate charges  were  made  by  it  with  the  bayonet,  and  in  each 
instance  the  enemy  fled  like  sheep.  Among  the  enemy's  dead 
were  many  officers,  whose  uniforms  indicatetl  high  rank,  thougli 
their  names  were  unknown.  The  next  morning  the  enemy 
sent  in  a  flag  of  truce  to  General  Beauregiird,  asking  permis- 
sion to  bury  their  dead,  which  was,  of  course,  granted. 

The  number  of  the  eneni}^  actually  cngagecl  in  this  battle  is 
variously  estimated  at  between  five  and  ten  thousand,  whilst 
our  force  little  exceeded  three  thousand  five  hundred. 


THE  CONDUCT  OF  OUR  TROOPS. 

The  conduct  of  our  men  was  truly  heroic.  With  the  rest  of 
the  army  as  admiring  spectators,  thcj'  performed  the  work 
which  had  fallen  to  them  with  a  delightful  intrepidity,  which 
has  won  the  aftectionate  applause  of  all  their  generous  com- 
rades in  arms.      ^ 

The  artillery  practice  on  our  side  fell  to  the  AVashington 
Artillery,  of  New  Orleans.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  they 
eclipsed,  if  possible,  their  high  re])utation.  We  expected  a  vast 
deal  of  them — they  have  given  us  more!  Henceforth,  for  in- 
trepidity and  accuracy,  and  rajjidity  of  fire,  they  stand  as  a 
^proverb  throughout  our  land. 

The  credit  of  this  fight  is  due  chiefl}^  to  the  AVashington  Ar- 
tillery, of  New  Orleans,  the  Ist  and  17th  Virginia  llegiments, 
and  the  Louisiana  7th,  assisted  by  Kemper's  Light  Battery, 
which  was  ])i-otected  by  the  2d  South  Carolina  Regiment  (Ker- 
shaw'sj.  The  17th  Virginia  Eegimont  highly  distinguished 
itself.  At  one  time  one  of  its  battalions  drove  a  whole  regiment 
of  the  enemy  before  it  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  to  the  top 
of  a  hill,  where  it  was  obliged  to  fall  back  to  the  Run,  the 
enemj-'s  discomfited  regiment  having  been  reinforced  b}'  four 
others.  Being  joined  at  the  "llun  "  by  the  other  battalion,  this 
gallant  I'cgiment  waited  the  near  a]iproach  of  the  five  opposing, 
delivered  a  telling  fire,  and  charged  on  them  with  the  bayonet, 
chasing  the  whole,  five  to  one,  acj'oss  the  field  at  full  speed. 
General  Beauregard  checked  the  pursuit.     Kemper,  covered  by 


one  battalion  of  the  Second  P:ibnetto  Regiment,  under  Ker- 
i;sli:iw,  sallied  out  from  the  entrenchments  Just  at  this  juncture, 
thi-e\v  two  shells  into  the  flyin<;-  infantry  of  the  enem}"  as  they 
attempted  to  rally,  and  scattered  them  anew.  Capt.  Kemper 
is  a  gnllant  and  accomplished  young  officer,  and  has  been  at- 
tached to  Kershaw's  regiment. 

All  of  our  men  behaved  with  the  utmost  coolness  and  fought 
like  the  disci])lined  soldiers  of  a  Napoleon.  It  would  be  invid- 
ious to  single  out  the  troops  from  any  particular  State  as  having 
exhibited  qualities  not  found  in  all.  The  conduct  of  our  gallant 
little  armj^  (never  before  under  fire),  on  this  occasion  surpasses 
all  praise.  For  steadiness  under  a  most  galling  fire,  indittcrence 
to  their  peril,  good  order  and  precision  of  aim,  history  may  be 
ransacked  in  vain  for  a  ])arallel.  The  enemy  outnumbered 
them  in  the  pro])ortion  of  throe  to  one. 

THE  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED. 

The  number  of  the  enemy  killed  is  variously  estimated  from 
five  hundred  to  one  thousand.  One  gentleman  counted  more 
than  two  hundred  bodies  within  the  space  of  two  acres.  Cer- 
tain it  is,  that  the  enemy,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  were  engaged 
the  greater  part  of  Fi'iday  in  digging  pits  and  burying  them 
ten  and  twenty  in  a  bunch.  A  small  cart  load  of  caps  and  felt 
hats  was  picked  up  on  the  field  since  the  battle,  some  of  them 
riddled  with  balls  and  saturated  with  blood.  Such  was  the 
stench  of  the  decaying  bodies  twenty-four  hours  after  the  bat- 
tle, that  our  men  in  the  neighborhood  w^ere  obliged  to  go  out 
and  cover  them  with  earth.  The  number  of  arms  taken  is  said 
to  have  been  five  hundred  and  four,  including  one  piece  of  ar- 
tillery; but  another  authority  puts  the  figure  as  low"  as  three 
hundred.     This  is  exclusive  of  revolvers  and  side  arms. 

INCIDENTS  OF  TUE  BATTLE. 

One  of  the  enemy's  Colonels  was  killed  by  a  squad  of  Col. 
Kershaw's  Second  South  Carolina  Kegiment,  his  horse  shot,  and 
§700  in  gold  found  upon  his  person. 

Among  the  many  incidents  related  of  the  affiiir,  is  one  of 
this  character,  and  it  fairly  illustrates  the  military  spirit  of  the 
wliole  army.  Connected'with  the  Seventeenth  Virginia  Ecgi- 
ment  is  a  little  fifteen  year  old,  named  Clarence  Carey,  of 
Alexandria.  His  position  in  the  regiment  is  that  of  "  marker," 
and  he  was  supposed  to  be  of  no  more  use  upon  a  battle  field 
than  a  brass  band  in  a  nu'Cting  house.  The  Colonel  accord- 
ingly ordered  him  to  go  to  the  hospital,  and  remain  there  until 
the  fight  was  over.  The  little  fellow  had  no  such  insignificant 
idea  of  himself,  however,  and  as  soon  as  the  Colonel's  back 
was  turned,  off  he  went  for  his  musket,  and  was  soon  in  the 


8 

fight.     The  result  of  his  marksmanship  is  said  to  have  been 
one  dead  Yankee  and  one  "  winijed." 

Another  little  chap — a  drummer  boy  from  Lynchburg — not 
much  more  than  a  yard  high,  hurried  to  the  field  as  soon  after 
the  battle  as  he  could,  to  get  a  gun  and  revolver,  but  unfortu- 
nately was  too  late,  and  his  only  trophy  was  an  odd  looking 
kuife,  with  a  buckhorn  handle.  lie  says  he  examined  the 
clothing  of  a  dozen  or  fifteen,  to  see  if  he  could'nt  make  a 
"raise,"  but  an  emptier  set  of  pockets  he  don't  believe  it  possi- 
ble to  exist.  The  only  ]iroducti()n  out  of  the  whole  numlior, 
Avas  a  due  bill  for  seven  dollars  from  one  Dutchman  to  another. 

The  incident  is  related  also,  that  during  the  fight  a  negro 
from  Lynchburg,  named  Dick  Langhorn,  l»elonging  to  one  of 
the  officers  of  a  Virginia  Regiment,  shot  one  of  the  Yankees  in 
the  shoulder,  and  knocked  down  another  who  was  accompany- 
ing him  with  his  revolver.  As  they  rose  from  the  ground,  the 
ebony  jiatriot  brought  his  pistol  to  bear  upon  them  a  second 
time,' accompanied  with  the  very  philosophical  remark:  "  Beny 
sorry  to  hurt  you,  massa,  but  de  fac  am,  dis  chile  wants  to 
show  3^ou  to  some  ob  de  gemmon  in  ole  Wirginny.  Come  along 
or  dis  nigger  hurt  you  shuah." 

"  Come  along"  tiiey  did,  and  the  boy  had  the  proud  pleasure 
of  delivering  his  prisoners  into  the  hands  of  the  Colonel  of  his 
regiment. 

From  these  circumstances  3'on  can  readily  deduce  that  our 
"boys,"  big  and  little,  black  and  white,  are  full  of  fight. 

For  us  this  was  a  most  brilliant  battle  and  a  most  cheering 
success.  For  the  enemy,  it  was  a  severe  and  galling  defeat. 
We  thank  God  for  his  favor  on  our  arms;  and  all  honor,  and 
the  thanks  of  our  great  country,  to  the  heroes  whose  skill  and 
valor  have  been  the  agency  of  winning  us  the  victor3^ 


BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS 

Sunday,  July  21. 


KVENTS  rRKCEDIXG  TTIE  BATTLE. 

The  Fcdorul  vVrmy  exceeded  in  the  magnitude  of  its  scale 
and  the  eonipleteness  of  its  equipment,  any  force  ever  marshal- 
ed upon  this  continent.  All  the  elements  of  strength  and  suc- 
cess which  the  ingenious  malice  of  an  ambitious  traitor  to  his 
native  State  and  section,  could  command,  were  combined  to 
insure  its  signal  triumjih.  The  whole  of  the  regulars  in  the 
United  States  service  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Ivocky  Moun- 
tains, with  but  a  trifling  exception,  Avere  mustered  into  this 
grand  column,  intended  to  sweep  before  it  the  insignificant 
opposition  of  Beauregard,  and  march  victoriously  into  Eich- 
mond.  The  choicest  batteries  were  served  by  the  most  skillful 
of  their  artillerists,  and  the  flower  of  their  infantry  were  com- 
manded by  the  most  courageous  and  accomplished  of  their 
leaders. 

With  all  their  ])lans  perfected,  buoyant  in  spirit,  elated  with 
hope  and  cupidity,  the  invading  army  moved  out  of  Alexan- 
dria on  Wednesday',  the  17th  inst.  On  Thursda}'.  they  ap- 
proached Fairfax,  and  found,  as  they  supposed,  our  whole  force 
in  position  there.  The  attack  was  made  in  three  columns. 
Our  troops,  with  aftccled  consternation,  retreated  hastily,  but 
in  perfect  order,  to  Bull  Run,  and  the}'  eagerly  followed.  When 
within  point  blank  range  of  several  masked  battei-ies,  into 
which  they  had  been  most  adroitly  ensnared,  we  opened  npon 
them  and  tore  tlieir  ranks  terribly.  The  figlit  was  brief,  but 
gave  great  encouragement  to  our  boys,  Avbo  had  been  rusting 
for  want  of  exercise.  On  Friday-,  Gen.  McDowell  sent  a  flag 
of  truce  asking  a  cessation  of  hostilities  to  bury  the  dead. 

General  Beauregard  now  commenced  his  preparations  for 
a  forward  movement,  and  had  well  nigh  completed  tiiem,  when, 
through  his  scouts,  he  learned  that  the  enemy  were  making 
arrangements  for  tlie  same  purpose.  He  immediately  changed 
bis  plans  and  put  his  command  in  position  of  defence.     Every 


10  • 

thing  was  J[pne  "dccentl}'  and  in  order,"  but  the  work  pro- 
gressed with  marvelous  rapidity.  Thus  passed  Saturday-.  On 
Saturda}'  niglit  Gen.  Johnston  assumed  command,  and  nearly 
the  entire  night  was  consumed  by  the  statf  of  both  Generals 
in  writing  orders  to  the  diilei-ent  brigades  to  prepare  for  a  for- 
ward movement  in  the  morning.  General  Beauregard's  plans 
were  to  be  cai'ried  out  in  a  great  measure,  and  the  rout  of  the 
enemy  would  have  been  more  signal,  and,  doubtless,  Washington 
would  now  be  in  our  possession,  if  our  attack  IkuI  not  been 
convei-ted  into  a  defence  b}-  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

THE  MORNING  OF  THE  BATTLE. 

"  We  are  in  the  midst  of  a  terrible  scene.  The  sacred  stillness 
of  the  Sabbath  is  being  interrujjted  by  the  heavy  booming  of 
artilleiy.  the  shrill  Avhistle  of  flying  balls,  the  roll  of  musketry, 
the  clatter  of  cavalry,  and  the  shouts  of  our  enthusiastic  sol- 
diers. Far  in  the  distance  ri.ses  the  thick  curtain  of  smoke 
that  has  been  belched  forth  from  the  mouths  of  a  score  or  more 
of  cannon,  and  envelopes  the  combatants,  while  dense  white 
balls  of  cloud,  no  bigger  than  a  man's  head,  standing  out  in 
bold  relief  against  the  blue  sky,  tell  of  bursting  bombs  and 
descending  missiles  of  destruction." 

There  were  not  many  spectators  of  the  battle,  the  general 
commanding  having,  on  Thui-sday,  issued  a  general  order  re- 
quiring all  civilians,  Avitli  the  exception  of  residents  before 
military  operations  commenced,  and  tliose  engaged  necessarilj' 
in  business  at  Manassas  Junction,  to  leave  the  camp  and  retire 
beyond  a  distance  of  four  miles. 

The  writer,  however,  and  his  confreres  of  the  press,  were 
privileged  to  remain  to  witness  a  scene  not  often  enacted,  and 
which  forms  an  era  in  their  lives  for  all  time  to  come,  a  scene 
of  terrific  grandeur  and  sublimity  which  is  imprinted  on  their 
memories,  with  a  recollection  never  to  be  effaced. 

The  day  was  bright  and  beautiful — on  the  left  was  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  in  front  were  the  slopes  on  the  North  side  of  Bull 
Run  crowned  with  woods,  on  which  the  enemy  had  early  plant- 
ed his  batteries,  and  all  around  us  were  eminences  on  which 
were  posted  small  but  anxious  knots  of  s])ectators. 

Bull  Run  is  North  of  Manassas  Junction  (the  shortest  dis- 
tance to  it  being  three  and  a  half  miles),  and  runs  due  east. 
Some  seven  miles  to  the  left,  and  in  a  north-westerly  direction, 
is  Stone  Bridge,  while  directly  in  front,  or  due  north,  is  Mitch- 
ell's Ford,  on  the  road  to  Centroville.  To  the  right,  on  the 
same  stream,  is  Union  Mills.  The  entire  country  from  the 
Stone  Bridge  to  the  latter  place,  on  the  opposite  side,  was  occu- 
pied by  the  Federal  foi-ces,  at  least  eighty  thousand  strong. 
They  were  there  located  upon  the  top  of  the  hill,  evidently  in 
strong  fo!-ce,  with  several  heavy  pieces  of  artilleiy,  including 
also   a  battery  of    six-pounders   and  rifle  cannon.     We  could 


11 

SCO  them  witli  tlic  naked  ej'e.  skirling  along  the  edge  of  tlie 
woods,  and  that  the}'  saw  us  we  had  ample  evidence  eveiy 
few  minuteH  hy  the  arrival  in  our  neighborhood,  frequentU' 
inconvenientl}'  dose,  of  whistling  cannon  balls,  which  burj- 
themselves  in  the  earth  around  us. 

Our  own  forces  held  corresponding  positions  on  this  side  of 
the  river,  and,  though  quiescent,  were  drawn  up  ready  for  battle, 
well  sup2)orted  by  artillery,  waiting  the  order  for  action. 

THE  ADVANCE. 

The  enemy  advanced  in  three  columns — the  centre  com- 
manded by  Gen.  McDowell,  the  right  wing  by  Dixon  S.  Miles, 
of  the  Second  United  States  Infantry,  and  the  left  wing  by 
Fitz  John  Porter,  formerl}'  of  the  Adjutant  General's  Depart- 
ment. 

Our  forces  were  disposed  in  corresponding  order.  Gen.  Beau- 
regard conimanding  the  centre,  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  the 
left,  and  Gen.  Jjongstreet  the  right  wing. 

The  enemy  selected  their  own  position,  and  on  the  ap])roach 
of  our  troops  were  drawn  up  in  a  line  of  battle,  which  1  heard 
an  officer  of  the  Mexican  war  describe  as  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  sights  he  ever  beheld. 

The  ground  upon  which  the  battle  was  fought  was  one  admi- 
rably adapted  to  the  purposes  of  defence  or  attack,  being,  with 
one  exception,  a  succession  of  gentle  hills,  covered  with  trees 
an<l  brushwood,  occasionally  intefi'upted  by  broad  meadow  land. 
Its  extent  was  about  two  miles  square,  but  the  principal  Ijattle 
ground  was  an  open  valley  with  a  hill  upon  each  side,  rising 
some  one  hundred  feet  above  the  low  ground,  and  distant  from 
each  other  about  six  hundred  yards.  Our  artillerj-  consisted  of 
some  five  battei'ies,  among  which  Avas  the  Washington  Artil- 
lery-, Pendleton's  and  Kem])er's.  Against  these  were  arrayed 
not  less  than  fifty  pieces,  including  the  famous  Sherman's  Fly- 
ing Artiller}-,  Shumpert's  Batterj',  and  the  Ehodc  Island  Fly- 
ing Artillery. 

At  about  8  o'clock  we  reached  a  hill  above  Mitchell's  Ford, 
almost  entirely  bare  of  trees,  and  sufficiently  high  to  afford  an 
unol>structed  view  of  the  opposite  heights.  After  taking  a 
leisui-ely  view  of  the  beautiful  landscape,  spread  out  before  us 
in  all  the  loveliness  and  grandeur  of  nature,  and  listening  with 
watchful  intent  to  the  booming  of  the  heav}'  cannon  on  our 
right  and  anxiously  examining  the  locations  where  the  guns  of 
the  enemj'  on  the  opposite  hills  were  plainly  to  be  seen  with  the 
naked  eye,  and  the  heavy  clouds  of  dust,  rising  above  the 
Avoods  in  front  and  on  either  side,  indicating  the  direction  in 
which  the  heavy  columns  of  the  enemy  were  marching,  we  each 
sought  the  shade  of  a  tree,  where  we  drew  forth  our  memoran- 
dum l)ooks  and  j)encils,  to  note  down  the  various  shif\ings  of 
the  scene  which  henceforth  forms  an  era  in  the  history  of  our 


12 

younjr   ConfedcM-acy,    and    i^raiully    inaugurates   the    niarcli  of 
glory  on  wliich  she  has  ontereil. 

KKMIM)    RLFFIN. 

An  intercstini;  niot'tintc  lioro  took  place  between  our  juirty 
and  the  venerable  Kdinund  Huftin,  who  had,  against  the  walls 
of  Fort  Sumter,  fired  the  first  defiant  gun  at  our  insoh-nt  and 
braggart  foe.  lie  had  eon\e  to  this  eonfiiet,  with  his  eighty-odd 
3'ears  weighing  upon  him.  and  his  flowing  white  locks,  to  take 
part  in  the  fight,  encouraging  our  young  men  by  his  jiresenco 
and  examjile.  Agile  as  a  youth  of  sixtecTi.  with  rifle  on  his 
shoulder,  Ins  eyes  glistened  with  excitement  as  he  burned  to 
engage  the  Yankee  invader. 

OUR    GENERALS    REC0NN0ITERI.\(i. 

Shortly  afterwards  Generals  Beauregard,  Johnston  and  Bon- 
ham,  accompanied  by  their  aids,  came  galloping  up  the  hill  and 
dismounted  on  the  summit.  The  Generals  held  an  earnest  con- 
sultation for  a  few  minutes,  while  taking  a  survey  of  the  field, 
and  watching  the  successive  challenges  from  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries, directed  against  our  right  and  among  the  woods  near 
Mitchell's  Ford,  wdiere  a  hospital  was  stationed  and  a  yellow 
flag  flying.  This  was  also  the  point  where  their  fire  of  Thurs- 
day was  directed,  and  where  the  mark  of  a  cannon  ball  is  to  be 
seen  in  the  kitchen  and  staf)Ie  of  a  house  in  which  General 
Beauregard  dined  on  that  day  at  the  time  the  ball  struck  the 
building.  Whether  the  enemy  thought  it  was  again  his  head- 
quarters, or  whether  the  fire  was  now  playing  toward  that 
])oint  to  draw  out  a  response  from  us^  is  not  known.  It  is  more 
likely,  however,  it  was  a  mere  feint — an  impotent  attempt  to 
deceive  our  skillful  and  able  commander  as  to  the  point  where 
the  enemy  was  most  in  lorce,  for  so  our  wise  General  consider- 
ed it,  as  he  was  seen  to  direct  General  Johnston's  attention 
particularl}^  with  his  hand  tow^ards  our  extreme  left,  as  if  he 
knew  the  struggle  was  to  be  made  there. 

As  I  have  said,  General  Beauregard  was  not  deceived,  for  the 
immense  clouds  of  dust  appearing  aljove  the  woods  indicated, 
beyond  a  doubt,  the  Federal  columns  were  moving  in  solid 
masses  in  another  direction,  and  one  which  was  unmistakeal>le. 

Just  at  this  time,  by  the  aid  of  our  glass,  we  could  see  their 
guns  brought  to  bear  on  the  hill  where  we  stood,  for  in  a  few 
minutes  the  smoke  was  discovered  issuing  from  their  batteries 
of  rifled  cannon  ;  and  before  scarcely  a  word  could  be  said,  the 
peculiar  whiz  and  hissing  of  the  balls  notified  us  that  their  aim 
had  been  well  taken.  Several  balls  fell  in  a  field  immediately 
behind  us,  and  not  a  hundred  yards  from  the  spot  where  the 
General  stood.  An  oflScer  of  Gen.  Beauregard's  statf  requested 
us  to  leave  the  hill,  and  as  we  moved  away  a  shell  burst  not 


13 

twenty  feet  off.  Col.  Bonner  calculated  with  his  watch  the 
time  taken  l\y  the  balls  to  pass  us,  and  made  the  distance  one 
and  three-quarter  miles  from  the  enemy's  battery.  The  enemy 
no  doubt  discovered  the  horses  of  the  Generals,  and  thought  it 
a  good  opportunity  to  display  their  marksmanship,  and  credit  is 
due  to  them  for  the  accuracy  of  their  aim.  Providence,  how- 
ever, who  governs  all  things,  covered  the  heads  of  our  Generals 
as  with  a  shield,  and  ]>reserved  them  for  the  hazardous  service 
in  which  they  were  in  a  short  hour  or  two  to  be  engaged. 

ATTACK  UPON  OUR  LEFT. 

It  was  now  ab|)ut  eleven  o'clock,  and  the  enemy  having 
opened  with  rifle  cannon  and  shell  on  the  right,  which  they  had 
continued  for  more  than  three  hours,  without  response,  we 
heard  away  to  the  left,  about  three  miles  distant,  the  heavy 
booming  of  cannon,  followed  immediately  by  the  rattling  crack 
of  musketry — the  discharges  being  repeated  and  continuous — 
Avhich  notified  us  the  engagement  had  commenced  in  earnest 
at  the  point  where  the  battle  was  to  be  fought  and  Avon. 

Eeaching  the  road  leading  from  Manassas,  ni}'  first  experi- 
ence was  in  encountering  a  I'egiment  of  A'^irginians,  who  had 
run  the  whole  distance  from  the  Junction,  and  were  panting 
and  cheering  from  fatigue  and  excitement.  Their  gallant  Cole- 
nel — I  did  not  learn  his  name — stood  by  the  roadside,  making 
appeals  to  the  men  that  were  enough  to  nerve  an  arm  of  steel. 
"  On  boys,  on,  for  God's  sake!  Ten  minutes  more  and  you  will 
have  a  chancer  Xever  let  it  be  said  that  Virginia  was  last  in 
the  field.  One  hour  more  and  the  enemy  is  whipped!"  Ima- 
gine men  who  have  been  longing  to  fight  for  months,  in  the 
presence  of  an  enemy,  the  musketry  rattling  distinctly  only  a 
mile  or  two  distant,  ami  dashing  leader  and  such  stirring  out- 
Inirst.s  of  passionate  eloquance,  and  you  can  imagine  something 
of  the  impulses  which  sent  these  men  flying  into  the  field. 

Here  and  there,  lying  along  the  road,  were  squads  of  soldiers 
who  had  been  in  the  battle,  and  had  come  out  exhausted. 
AVounded  men,  with  heads  blood^',  hands  shot  awa}*,  legs  man- 
gled, and  otherwise  hurt,  were  slowlj'  wending  their  way  with 
their  comrades  towards  the  Junction.  Ambulances  filled  with 
those  more  seriously  injured,  also  moved  in  the  same  direction. 
Nearer  the  scene,  in  a  shaded  hollow,  on  the  banks  of  a  nar- 
row creek,  large  numbers  of  the  wounded  were  gathered  and 
undergoing  various  operations  at  the  hands  of  the  surgeons, 
who,  covered  with  blood  and  dust,  ])lied  the  knife,  saw  and 
needle,  as  if  human  flesh  Avas  not  instinct  Avith  life  or  sensible 
to  pain. 

At  this  point.  Generals  Beauregard  and  Johnston,  accompa- 
nied b}'^  a  staff  of  some  ten  or  tweh'e  officers,  passed  at  full 
gallop,  riding  tOAvards  their  headquarters  for  the  day,  Avhich 
were  on  a  hill  immediately  overlooking  the  ground  where  our 


14 

brave  soldiers  were  manfully  and  persi^^tcntlv  strngiiling  for 
the  vietor}'. 

A  large  force  of  cavalry  were  here  stationed,  an<l  as  the 
Generals  passed  they  called  for  three  cheers  for  Beaurenard, 
which  were  immediately  given  with  right  good  will,  and  which 
the  General  gracefully  acknowloilged  b}-  lifting  his  hat  Irom 
his  head  and  bowing  his  thanks. 

Both  of  onr  Generals  were  plainly  dressed.  2no  large  ei)au- 
letts,  no  gilt,  nor  any  fuss  and  feathers;  you  could  only  distin- 
guish thein  at  a  distance  to  be  officers  b}'  their  swords,  but  on 
a  closer  inspection,  the  marks  of  genius  and  military  skill  were 
unmistakeable.  Their  uniform  was  what  1,  took  to  be  j>lain 
undress.  Not  the  least  sign  of  excitement  was  to  be  seen  on 
the  countenances  of  either  as  thej'^  coolly  rode  fofward  into  the 
storm  of  iron  hail.  Beauregard's  qjc  glistened  with  expecta- 
tion, no  doubt,  when  he  afterwards  threw  himself  into  the  very 
heart  of  the  action,  appearing  then,  as  was  afterwards  most 
expressively  said  of  him,  to  be  the  very  impersonation  of  the 
"  god  of  war."  Gen.  Johnston,  too,  looked  every  inch  a  com- 
jnander,  and  proved  himself  to  be  the  worthy  inheritor  of  the 
])i-owess  and  virtues  of  his  ancestors. 

On  reaching  the  top  of  the  hill,  where  was  a  white  house, 
owned,  I  believe,  by  a  Mr.  Lewis,  they  Avere  again  discovered 
by  the  enem}',  as  the  rifled  shot  and  shell  whizzed  through  the 
air  and  lodged  in  the  hollow  behind.  The  aim  was  not  so  good 
at  this  time,  the  accurate  artillerists  three  miles  l)el()w  not  hav- 
ing 3'^et  come  up  with  the  enemy's  main  body. 

THE  FIGHT  AT  STONE  BRIDGE. 

Gen.  Evans,  of  South  Carolina,  was  the  first  to  lead  his  Bri- 
gade into  action  at  Stone  Bridge.  It  consisted  of  the  Fourth 
South  Carolina  Regiment  and  Wheat's  liouisiana  Battalion. 
Sustaining  them  was  Gen.  Cocke's  Brigade,  consisting  of  the 
Seventeenth,  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-eighth  Virginia  Regi- 
ments, commanded  respectively  by  Colonels  Cocke,  Withers 
and  r^obert  T.  Preston.  These  Brigades  were  the  first  to  bear 
the  brunt  of  the  action,  as  they  were  exposed  to  a  concentric 
fire,  the  object  of  the  enemy  being  to  turn  our  left  flank,  while 
we  were  endeavoring  to  turn  his  right.  These  regiments  of 
Infantry  were  sustaining  the  famous  Washington  Artillery,  of 
New  Ui'leans,  who  had  two  of  their  guns  at  this  point,  which 
made  teri'ilile  havoc  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  The  Federal 
troops  leading  the  action  consisted  of  ten  thousand  Regulars, 
sustaining  the  celebrated  Sherman's  Battery,  these  Regulars 
being  in  their  turn  sustained  by  immense  masses  of  volunteers, 
the  New  York  Zouaves  among  the  number.  Gen.  Beauregard 
estimated  the  enemy's  numbers  in  the  action  to  be  not  less  than 
thirty-five  thousand  men. 

The  brigades  of  Jackson,  Bartow,  Bee  and  Cocke,  also  a  part 


15 

of  the  division  of  (Jen.  Evans,  rallied  to  their  assistance,  and 
contested  every  inch  of  ground  with  a  desperate  determination 
never  surpassed. 

The  carnage  at  this  point  was  terrible.  The  Fourth  Alaba- 
ma, of  Bee's,  and  the  Eighth  Georgia,  of  Bartow's  Brigade, 
Avere  most  exposed,  and  contributed  largely  toward  the  results 
achieved,  by  holding  their  position  for  hours  under  a  most  mur- 
derous fire  of  musketry  on  both  flanks,  and  a  heav}-  battery  in 
front,  until  they  were  relieved  by  reinforcements,  under  Col. 
Jackson,  who,  was  the  first  to  reach  them.  The  battle  rapidly 
converged  to  this  point. 

The  enemy,  however,  had  the  advantage  of  numerical 
strength  and  localit^y.  Fort}'  or  fifty  cannon  Avere  playing 
Avith  fearful  efiect  upon  our  troops.  Their  column  numbered 
Iwciity-five  thousand,  Avbilst  Ave  could  onh^  op]>ose  them  at  the 
beginning  Avith  al)out  eight  thousand.  Slowly  but  surely  the 
heavj'  column  kept  on  in  its  march,  pressing  our  line  back  by 
the  Aveight  of  numbers,  and  moving  on  in  the  settled  purpose 
of  turning  our  flank  and  attacking  us  in  the  rear.  Gallantly, 
however,  did  our  army  struggle  for  the  right,  and  despite  of 
odds,  regiment  after  regiment  thrcAv  itself  in  the  Avay,  disputing 
the  ground,  inch  by  inch,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  its  prede- 
cessors had  been  cut  to  pieces  or  dispersed. 

Many  of  our  regiments  in  the  rapitl  changes  Avhich  had  taken 
place,  had  become  decimated  and  disorganized;  small  detach- 
ments Avere  Avithout  officers  to  lead  them  ;  several  field  officers 
had  fallen,  killed  or  wounded;  and  the  men,  Avear}-  with  their 
long  marches  and  hard  fighting,  Avere  leaA'ing  the  field  by 
dozens. 

Gen.  Bee's  Brigade  could  not  Avithstand  the  fierce  tornado  of 
shot  and  shell  swee])ing  through  its  ranks,  and  slowly  retired, 
fighting  bravely  all  the  time.  The  4th  Alabama  Ivcginient 
surtered  terriblj',  all  of  its  field  officers  being  shot  doAvn,  and 
two  (Col.  Jones  and  Major  Scott)  left  U2)ou  the  field.  Col. 
Jones  Avas  captured,  but  afterwards  re-taken  during  the  rout. 
Falling  back  upon  the  position  taken  by  Hampton's  Legion. 
Avhose  pi'owess  can  clearly  be  shown  by  the  heaps  of  dead  iu 
front  of  their  line,  a  momentary  check  Avas  throAvn  in  the 
enem3''s  approach. 

GENERAL  JACKSON. 

The}-  bad  now  retreated  to  the  broAv  of  the  hill,  where  the 
brigade  of  Gen.  Jackson  Avas  lying  j-K^rt/w,  and  this  Avas  the  most 
critical  point  of  the  day.  This  Brigade  had  been  Ij'ing  for 
hours  sustaining  Avith  unflinching  courage  a  most  terrific  fire. 
The  General  had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  and  a  finger  of  the 
left  hand  shot  off,  but  cool  as  a' cucumber  he  still  urged  his 
"  bo^-s "  to  be  "stead}',"  and  steady  they  Avere,  Avhen  they 
charged  and  butchered  the  Fire  Zouaves  and  other  reiiiments 


IG 

rij:;ht  and  loft.  Tlic  General  has  a  waj'  of  holdinij;  his  head  u]i 
very  straij^iit.  and  his  almost  invarialde  response  to  any  remark 
is  "  very  well,"  whilst  his  ehin  seems  trying  to  get  up  towards 
the  top  of  his  head.  The  writer  remembers,  in  the  midst  of 
the  tight,  to  have  seen  the  (General  rallying  his  men,  whilst  his 
chin  seemed  to  stick  out  fui'ther.  and  his  "  very  wells  "  seemed 
to  sound  more  euphoniously  than  ever,  and  when  the  writer 
wished  to  pour  a  little  whisky  upon  the  shattered  tinger.  he 
was  told  that  it  was  "of  no  consequence."  and  away  went  the 
General,  Avith  a  hatter}'  following  him  to  take  ])osition  in  some 
advantageous  spot.  If  any  one  was  ever  entitled  to  a  soubri- 
quet, the  General  certainl}^  deserves  that  of  cool. 

HA.MPTON  LEGION. 

Fighting  for  hours  under  a  hot  sun,  without  a  drop  of  water 
near,  the  conduct  of  our  men  could  not  be  excelled;  but  human 
endurance  has  its  bounds,  and  all  seemed  about  to  be  lost.  Our 
reserves  were  yet  miles  distant  from  the  scene  of  action,  whilst 
the  Hampton  Legion  had  been  stationed  some  distance  off.  but 
the  hurried  order  of  an  Aid-de-Camp  to  advance  to  the  Stone 
Bridge,  set  tlicm  in  motion,  and  at  a  double  quick  time  they 
passed  over  the  four  miles,  at  a  rate  which  knocked  up  many 
and  nearly  killed  some  wdiose  pride  and  resolution  kept  them 
up  in  spite  of  physical  exhaustion.  Not  knowing  exactly 
where  the  Stone  Bridge  la}',  the  gallant  Hampton  following  a 
brave  man's  instincts,  dashed  for  the  point  at  which  the  firing 
was  heaviest,  and  soon  found  his  line  swept  by  a  cross  lire  from 
the  batteries  opposite.  His  men,  reeling  and  wavering  under 
the  awful  shower,  rocked  like  drunken  men,  but  as  an  eye  wit- 
ness, described  it,  "always  brought  up  on  a  balance  a  Icetle  bit 
nearer  the  enemy  every  time."  J^ut  at  last  their  commander, 
fearing  destruction  if  unsupported,  sent  for  aid.  "  Tell  \\'\\\\  to 
retreat,"  said  Beauregard.  "Boys,"  said  the  Colonel  Avhen  he 
received  the  order,  "  we  did  not  come  here  to  retreat !  Shall  we 
go  ahead  /"  A  shout  Avas  the  response,  ^ind  on  they  staggered. 
Hampton,  Avho  is  a  capital  shot,  here  dismounted  and  took  a 
rifle,  calling  on  his  boys  to  do  as  he  did,  aimed  coolly,  and 
knocked  over  every  one  he  fired  at.  Lieut.  Col.  Johnson  at- 
tempted the  same  and  proved  himself  a  cool  soldier,  but  refus- 
ing to  dismount,  his  portly  form  afforded  too  good  a  mark  and 
a  bullet  passed  through  his  temples.  He  fell,  and  one  of  his 
young  friends  in  the  Legion,  s})riuging  forward,  shook  him  and 
halloed  in  his  ear,  but  in  A'ain — not  a  quiver  of  tlTc  eye  lid  nor 
a  heave  of  the  chest  indicated  that  life  had  outlasted  the  pas- 
sage of  the  missile.  Scarce  a  minute  before  he  fell  he  had  been 
urged  to  dismount,  but  replied,  it  is  said,  "The  Yankee  bullet 
that  is  to  kill  me  has  not  been  yet  cast."  Alas  I  it  Avas  already 
rammed  home,  and  Avords  uttered  only  to  giA'c  confidence  to 
his  men,  must  pass  among  the  vain. 


17 

For  thi-ee  hours  they  stood  the  brunt  of  the  battle  in  that 
part  of  the  field  in  which  they  were  engaged,  never  giving  an 
inch,  and  never  moving  from  their  place,  unless  it  was  to  ad- 
vance. That  they  were  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  you  inay 
Judge  from  the  fact  that  they  liave  suffered  greuter'loss  in  pro- 
portion to  their  numbers  than  any  other  regiment  upon  the 
field,  unless  exception  be  made  in  favor  of  the  Eighth  Cxeorgia 
Jieginient.  Col.  Bartow,  and  the  Fourth  Alabama,  Col.  Jones. 
Col.  .lIam|.)ton  was  wounded  during  a  charge  upon  Shum])ert's 
batterv,  which  was  taken,  ani.i  he  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the 
field.  ' 

After  tl)eca])ture  of  Shnmpert's  battery,  the  command  of  the 
Legfon  devolved  u'">on  Captains  Conner  and  Gary,  as  senior  offi- 
cers, but  they  were  led  into  action  at  a  critical  ]ieriod  of  the 
day,  by  Cxcneral  Beauregard  in  person,  and  in  conjunction  with 
the  other  ((^ash's  and  Kershaw's)  lleginients,  turned  the  tide 
of  battle ;  this  rare  compliment  coming  from  the  lips  of  the 
commander  in-chief  in  person 

(5ENERAL     BEE. 

General  Barnard  E.  Bee  displayed  a  gallantry  that  scarcely 
has  a  ])arallel  in  history.  The  brunt  of  the  morning's  battle 
Avas  sustained  by  his  command  until  past  two  o'clock.  Over- 
whelmed by  superior  numbers,  and  compelled  to  ^'ield  before  a 
fire  that  swept  everything  before  it,  General  Bee  rode  up  and 
down  his  lines,  encouraging  his  troojjs,  by  everything  that  was 
dear  to  them,  to  stand  up  and  repel  the  tide  which  threatened 
them  with  destruction.  At  last  his  own  brigade  dwindled  to  a 
mere  handful,  with  every  field  officer  killed  or  disabled.  He 
rode  up  to  General  Jackson  and  said:  "  General,  they  are  beat- 
ing us  back." 

The  reply  was:  "  Sir,  we'll  give  them  the  bayonet." 

General  Bee  immediately  rallied  the  remnant  of  his  brigade, 
and  his  last  words  to  them  were:  "  There  is  Jackson,  standing 
like  a  stone  wall.  Let  us  determine  to  die  here,  and  we  will 
conquer.     Follow  me  !  " 

His  men  obeyed  the  call,  and  at  the  head  of  his  shattered 
column,  the  veiy  moment  when  the  battle  was  turning  in  our 
favor,  he  fell,  mortally  wounded.  Gen.  Beauregard  was  heard 
to  say  he  had  never  seen  such  gallantry.  He  never  murmured 
at  his  suffering,  but  seemed  to  be  consoled  b}'  the  reflection 
that  he  was  doing  his  duty. 

TERRIBLE    CIIAROK    OF   THE    EIGHTH    GEORGIA    REGIMENT. 

The  Georgians  went  into  the  field  with  only  five  hundred  and 
fifty  men — many  of  them  being  upon  the  sick  list — and  were 
posted  on  the  )-ight  (jf  Rev.  Captain  Pendleton's  Virginia  bat- 
ter3^  After  being  shelled  by  the  enemy  for  a  considerable 
time,  a  hail  of  tire  which  they   stood   like  statues,    the}'  were 


18 

ordered  to  charii^e  on  Sherman's  batter}-.  In  order  to  do  this  it 
was  necessar}'  to  cross  an  intervening  hoHow  and  establish 
themselves  in  a  pine  thicket,  where  they  could  more  cttoctually 
flank  the  enemy's  ])Ositi()n. 

(iaining'the  thicket,  they  opened  upon  the  enemy.  The  his- 
tory of  warfare  ]>r()l)altl3'  affords  no  instance  of  more  desperate 
fighting  than  took  place  now.  From  three  sides  a  fierce,  con- 
centrated, murderous,  unceasing  voile}-  poured  in  upon  this 
devoted  and  heroic  "six  hundred"  Georgians.  The  enemy 
appeared  upon  the  hill  by  the  thousand.  Between  six  and  ten 
regiments  were  visible.  It  was  a  hail  of  bullet-rain  in  that 
fatal  grove.  The  ranks  were  cut  down  as  grain  by  a  scvthe. 
Whole  platoons  melted  away  as  if  by  magic.  C09I,  unflinoliing 
and  stul»horn,  each  man  fought  with  gallantry,  and  a  stern 
determination  to  win  or  die.  JSoi  one  faltered.  Col.  Bartow's 
horse  was  shot  under  him.  Adjutant  Bi'anch  fell,  mortally 
wounded.  Lieut.  Col.  Gardner  dropped  with  a  shattered  leg. 
The  officers  moved  from  rank  to  rank,  from  man  to  man, 
cheering  and  encouraging  the  brave  fellows.  Some  of  them 
took  the  muskets  of  the  dead  and  began  coolly  firing  at  the 
enemy. 

It  was  an  appalling  hour.  The  shot  whistled  and  tore 
through  trees  and  bones.  The  ground  became  literally  paved 
with  the  fallen.  Yet  the  remnant  stood  composed  and  unquail- 
ing,  carefully  loading,  steadily  aiming,  uuei-ringly  firing,  ami 
then  quietly  looking  to  see  the  effect  of  their  shots.  Mere  boys 
fought  like  veterans — unexcited,  save  with  that  stern  "  Avhite 
heat,"  flameless  exhileration,  that  battle  gives  to  brave  spirits. 

Alter  eight  or  ten  rounds  the  regiment  a])peai"cd  annihilated. 
The  order  was  reluctantly  given  to  cease  firing  and  retire. 
The  stubborn  fellows  gave  no  heed.  It  was  repeated.  Still 
no  obedience.  The  battle  spirit  was  up.  Again  it  was  given. 
Three  volleys  had  been  fired  after  the  fii-st  command.  At 
length  they  retired,  walking  and  fighting.  Owing  to  the  den- 
sity of  the  growth,  a  part  of  tlie  regiment  were  separated  from 
the  colors.  The  other  part  formed  in  an  open  field  behind  the 
thicket.  The  retreat  continued  over  ground  alternately  Avood 
and  field.  At  every  open  spot  they  Avould  reform,  pour  a  volley 
into  the  pursuing  enemy  and  again  retire. 

From  the  accounts  of  the  enemy  Avho  stoppetl  to  give  Avater 
to  the  wounded  and  rifle  the  dead,  it  seems  that  the  Eighth  cut 
to  pieces  the  Sixth  Massachusetts,  half  demolished  the  Rhode 
Islanders,  and  made  deadly  havoc  among  the  Regulars. 

But  a  horriljle  mistake  occurred  at  this  point.  Their  own 
friends  taking  them  for  the  enemy,  poured  a  fatal  fire  upon 
their  mutilated  ranks. 

At  length  they  withdrew  from  the  fight.  Their  final  rally 
was  with  some  sixty  men  of  the  six  hundred  they  took  in. 
lialaklava  tells  no  more  heroic  tale  than  this  :  "  Into  the  valley 
of  death  marched  the  six  hundred." 


19 

As  the}'  retired,  tliey  passed  Gen.  Beauregard.  He  drew 
aside,  fronted,  raised  his  hat,  and  said,  "  I  sahite  the  Eio-htli 
CTeor<j:ia  with  my  hat  off." 

Of  all  the  companies  of  the  regiment,  the  Oglethorpe  Light 
Intantry  suffered  most.  They  were  on  the  extreme  rigiit  near- 
est the  enem}',  and  thus  were  more  exposed.  Comj^osed  of  the 
first  young  gentlemen  of  Savannah,  their  terrihle  loss  will 
throw  a  gloom  over  their  wiiole  cit3^ 

An  organization  of  five  or  six  3'ears'  standing  they  were  the 
fixvorito  corps  of  Savannah.  Colonel  Bartow  had  long  been 
Captain  and  was  idolized  by  them,  while  he  had  a  band  of  sons 
in  thefli.  It  is  supposed  that  his  deep  grief  at  the  mutilation 
of  his  boys,  caused  him  to  expose  his  lite  more  recklessly  than 
was  necessary.  He  wished  to  die  with  them,  if  he  could  not 
take  them  back  home. 

They  fought  Avith  heroic  desjieration.  All  young,  all  unmar- 
ried, all  gentlemen,  there  was  not  one  of  the  killed  who  was 
not  an  ornament  to  his  community,  and  freighted  with  brilliant 
promise.  In  sending  them  to  Virginia,  Savannah  sent  her  best 
to  represent  her,  and  their  loss  jn-oves  how  well  the}'  stood  up, 
how  well  that  cit}'  was  represented  upon  a  field  where  all  were 
brave. 

DEATH    OF    COLONEL  BARTOW. 

After  the  gallant  8th  had  retired  with  but  a  fragment,  Col. 
Bartow,  by  General  Beauregard's  order,  brought  up  the  7th 
Georgia,  exclaiming,  in  reply  to  Col.  Gartrell,  of  the  7th,  who 
asked  him  where  the}'  should  go — "Give  me  your  flag,  and  I 
will  tell  you." 

Leading  them  to  their  stand  amid  a  terrific  fire,  he  posted 
the  regiment  fronting  the  enemy,  and  exclaimed  in  those  elo- 
quent tones  so  full  of  high  feeling  that  his  friends  ever  expected 
from  him — ''Gen.  Beauregard  says  you  must  hold  this  position, 
and,  Georgians,  I  appeal  to  you  to  hold  it." 

Here  again  they  were  exposed  to  a  galling  fire,  tei*rible  in  its 
effect,  and  here  fell  the  heroic  Bartow.  His  horse  having  been 
previously  killed,  and  the  color-bearer  of  the  Seventh  being 
likewise  killed  or  wounded,  he  was  on  foot  at  the  head  of  his 
command,  banner  in  hand,  leading  them  forward  in  the  thickest 
of  the  fight,  when  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  chest  just  above 
the  heart.  He  was  immediately  carried  to  the  rear,  laid  upon 
the  ground  with  a  knapsack  for  a  pillow,  and  the  best  of  medi- 
cal attention  rendered;  but  he  was  beyond  the  reach  of  human 
aid. 

AVith  both  hands  clasped  over  his  breast,  he  raised  his  head 
and  with  a  God-like  effort,  his  eye  glittering  in  its  last  gleam 
with  a  blazing  light,  he  said,  witli  a  last  heroic  flash  of  his  lofty 
spirit,  "They  have  killed   me,  but,  boys,  never  give    up   the 


20 

lield," — einpliasizin<r  llic  "never"   in  liis  pecjijiav  and  stirring 
manner,  that  all  who  know  liim  will  so  I'eelingly  recall. 

Thus  perishetl  as  noble  a  soul  as  ever  i)reathed.  lie  will  long 
live  in  rcnienibranee.  He  mot  the  fate  he  most  wished — the 
niart3-red  patriot's  grave.  He  was  a  pure  patriot,  an  able 
statesman,  a  brilliant  lawyer,  a  chivalrie  soldier,  a  spotless  gen- 
tleman. His  imperious  seorn  of  littleness  was  one  of  his  lead- 
ingV-haracteristics.  His  lotty  patriotism  will  consign  his  name 
to  an  immortal  jjage  in  this  country's  history.  He  died  a  sol- 
dier's death,  with  the  bullets  ot  the  enemy  whistling  around 
him,  and  has  left  behind  a  memory  which  will  long  remain 
green  in  the  hearts  of  those  in  whose  cause  befell.  On  liearing 
of  the  sad  event,  (ieneral  .lohiiston  sent  a  detachment  to  remove 
the  body  to  headquarters,  and,  by  order  of  the  I'residciit,  who 
had  just  arrived,  it  was  there  ])laced  in  a  cottin  and  sent  to  the 
bereaved  wite  who  had  parted  with  him  in  liiehmond,  full  of 
hope  and  ha]titiness  but  a  few  days  before. 

A    CRITICAL    HOUR. 

Between  two  and  three  o'clock  large  numbers  of  men  were 
leaving  the  field,  some  of  them  wounded,  others  exhausted  by 
the  long  struggle  who  gave  gloomy  reports;  but  as  the  fire  on 
both  sides  continued  steadily,  \vc  felt  sure  that  our  brave  South- 
erners had  not  been  conquered  by  the  overwhelming  hordes  of 
the  North.  It  is,  however,  due  to  truth  to  say  that  the  result 
at  this  hour  hung  trembling  in  the  balance.  We  had  lost  num- 
bers of  our  most  distinguished  officers.  Generals  Bartow  and 
Bee  had  been  stricken  down;  Lieut.  Colonel  Johnson,  of  the 
Hampton  Legion,  had  been  killed;  Colonel  Hampton  had  been 
wounded. 

Fi'om  the  knoll  near  the  Lewis  House,  the  two  Generals, 
Beauregard  and  Johnston,  had  remained  anxious  spectators  of 
the  conflict;  but  the  time  had  come  for  action,  and  ]>lunging 
their  spurs  into  the  quick-footed  steeds,  awa}'  went  the  Gen- 
erals and  their  staff  right  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  C'oming 
up  first  to  the  Alaljamians,  who  were  without  a  field  officer. 
Gen.  Johnston  placed  the  color-bearer  l)y  his  horse's  side  and 
moved  on — each  and  all  of  the  staff,  with  the  Generals,  vieing 
with  each  other  in  woi'ds  of  encouragement  to  the  men  to  come 
on.  And  Avell  timed  Avas  this  movement.  Already  our  line 
upon  the  hill  top  was  giving  way,  but  incited  to  fresh  deeds  of 
heroism  b}'  the  appearance  in  their  midst  of  our  Generals,  ap- 
parently bringing  up  reinforcements,  they  pitched  into  the  fray 
witli  redoubled  ardor,  and  from  that  time  yielded  not  an 
int'li  of  ground.  Gen.  Beauregard  riding  over  to  the  left  took 
charge  of  operations  there,  displaA'ing  his  reckless  bravery  by 
riding  up  and  down  our  lines  between  the  enemy  and  his  own 
men,  regardless  of  the  heavy  fire,  cheering  and  encoui-aging  our 
troops.     About  this  time  a  shell  struck    his   horse,  taking  its 


21 

head  off,  and  killing  the  horses  of  his  Aids,  Messrs.  Ferguson  and 
Hey  ward. 

General  Beauregard's  Aids  deserve  lionoi'able  mention,  par- 
ticularly those  just  named,  and  Colonels  W.  Porcher  Miles, 
James  Chesiiut,  JohnL.  Manning  and  A.  R.  Chisolm. 

UNEXPECTEH    REINFORCEMENTS. 

Gen.  Johnston  •xclaimed  to  (Jen.  Cocke  Just  at  the  critical 
moment,  "Oh,  for  four  regiments  I"  His  wish  \vas  answered, 
.for  in  the  distance  our  reinforcements  api)eared. 

Just  at  thi-N  juncture,  two  o'clock,  Gen.  E.  K.  Smith,  of  Flor- 
ida, Avith  Elsey's  Brigade,  composed  of  a  Tennessee  and  Missis- 
sippi Eegiment,  the  ]3altiniore  Battalion  and  a  battery  of  eiglit 
jiieces  of  artillery,  arrived  u]>on  the  fielil,  and  reported  himself 
and  command  to  Gen.  Johnston.  No  event  could  have  been 
more  opportune.  He  heard  the  firing,  and  dismissing  his  guide 
pressed  on  to  the  heavy  discharges.  Luckily,  he  came  out  on 
the  right  of  the  enemy  just  at  a  moment  when  a  large  body  of 
Louisianians  (as  I  am  informed  by  one  of  the  party),  mingled 
with  stragglers  from  all  the  regiments,  the  exhausted,  the  sick 
and  slightly  Avounded,  who  lay  in  their  way,  dispersed  along 
an  extensive  stretch  of  woods,  were  dashing  forwai'd  to  take 
one  more  blow  at  the  enemy.  The}'  were  at  first  supposed  to 
be  the  enemy,  their  arrival  at  that  point  of  the  field  being  en- 
tirely unexpected. 

THE    BATTLE    WON. 

The  enemy  fell  back,  and  a  panic  seized  them.  Cheer  after 
cheer  from  our  men  went  up,  and  we  knew  the  battle  had  been 
won.  New  impulse  was  imparted  to  exhausted  bodies,  fresh 
hopes  were  inspired,  and,  in  a  word,  the  tide  of  battle  changed. 
Instead  of  falling  back,  we  now  advanced.  Our  soldiers  charged 
to  the  very  mouths  of  the  cannon,  and  fought  as  if  they  felt 
that  the  destinies  of  the  day  were  suspended  in  the  balance. 

The  enem}'  were  mowed  down  by  hundreds.  Ellsworth's 
Zouaves,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  Maine.  Massa- 
chusetts, Minnesota,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  men  lay  in  every 
field  and  patch  of  woods.  The  horses  of  the  artillery  were  dead 
and  dying  in  piles  around  their  batteries,  and  the  Yankees  were 
receiving  a  succession  .of  shocks  which  it  was  not  possible  to 
long  withstand.  Still  they  fought  obstinately  and  well,  yield- 
ing not  so  much  to  numbers  as  to  the  irresistible  onsets  which 
followed  on   inl'antry  and  artillery  alike, 

THE  VICTORY  (iAI.NED   BY  SOUTH  CAROLINA  TROOPS. 

To  insure  the  victory,  now  so  nearly  won,  but  still  hanging  in 
the  balance,  an  order  was  sent  for  the  Second  and  Eiglith  Pal- 
metto Regiments  to  hasten  to  the  assistance  of  the  left  wing. 
Couriers  were  dispatched  to  Capt.  Ferryman,  out  scouting,  and 


Capt.  Ehett.  on  picket  guard,  to  marcli  across  tlie  fields  to  the 
left,  and  join  their  regiment,  the  Seconil,  -which  was  on  the 
inarch,  to  aid  the  left  wing.  Tiiis  regiment,  to  which  was 
attached  Kemper's  Battery,  followed  by  the  Eighth.  Col.  Cash, 
hurried  to  the  scene  of  action. 

The  fast  flying  cannon  shot  now  cut  down  several  of  our 
iiumlter  before  they  got  sight  of  the  foe.  Presently  tlu'v  became 
visilije,  with  banners  insolently  flaunting.  aAid  driving  before 
them  the  remains  of  our  shattered  forces.  But  the  Second, 
undaunted  b}-  the  sight,  ployed  column,  and.  with  a  shout. _ 
charged  up  the  hill  at  the  double  quick.  The  Yankees  could' 
not  stand  the  shock,  and  fell  back  into  a  wood  on  the  west  of 
the  hill,  jjouring  into  us  a  galling  tire.  Driven  through  tlrts 
wood,  they  again  formed  on  a  brigade  of  their  men  in  a  field 
beyond,  and  for  half  an  hour  a  severe  struggle  took  place 
between  this  regiment,  with  Kemper's  Battery  attached,  un- 
supported, and  an  immense  force  of  United  States  troops.  We 
])oured  in  a  steady  and  deadly  fire  upon  liieir  ranks.  While 
the  battle  raged  the  Eighth  South  Carolina  Kegiment  came  up, 
and  Col.  Cash,  ])ointing  to  the  enemy,  says:  "  Col.  Kershaw  are 

those  the  d d  scoundrels  that  you  wish  driven  off  the  field? 

I'll  do  it  in  five  minutes,  by  God  !"  "  Yes,  Colonel,"  says  Ker- 
shaw, "form  on  our  left  and  do  it  if  you  can."  In  a  few 
moments  the  Eighth  got  close  up  on  the  left,  and  poured  in  a 
murderous  fire,  under  which  the  euemj'  reeled  and  broke. 

Again  they  formed  on  a  hill,  and  new  legions  covering  the 
hills  around  i-ushed  to  their  suppoi"t,  but  the  terrific  fire  of 
Kemper's  Battery  was  too  much  for  them.  The}'  reeled  again 
and  broke.  "  Forward,  Second  Palmetto  Pegiment !"  says  Ker- 
shaw. "Now  is  the  time!"  The  Second  and  Eighth  now 
dashed  foi'ward,  fast  but  steadily,   and  the  victory  was  Avon. 

From  eleven  until  four  o'clock  the  battle  lasted  undiminish- 
ed   in   the  fierceness   with  which  it  had  been  commenced. 

THE   ENGAGEMENT  ON  OUR  RIGHT. 

The  line  <;f  battle  extended  some  seven  miles  up  and  down 
the  creek,  and  during  the  day  there  were  some  minor  enga^-e- 
ments  at  other  fords. 

At  lilackburn's  Ford,  Gen.  Jones'  Bi'igade  made  an  attack 
upon  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  wlio  had  two  strong  batteries 
in  a  commanding  position,  which  it  was  important  to  capture. 

This  brigade  embraced  the  Seventeenth  tuid  Eighteenth  Mis- 
sissij)])i  Regiments  and  the  Fifth  South  Carolina  Regiment  un- 
der command  of  Col.  Jenkins.  These  Avere  stationed  at  ]\Iac- 
J.iane's  Ford  on  Bull  Pun.  Gen.  Jjongstreet  was  on  the  right 
at  Biackman's  Ford,  while  Hen.  Ewell  occupied  a  ])osition  at 
Mitciiell's  Ford.  Just  in  front  of  Jones'  ])osition,  on  a  hill  op- 
})osite,  was  a  batteiy  of  eight  guns,  which  all  the  morning  had 
been  pouring  upon  our  forces  an  incessant  though  harmless  fire. 


23 

This  Jones  was  to  attack  in  front,  Longstrcct  in  the  i-ear,  and 
Ewcll  on  the  riH;ht. 

The  first  brigade  accordingly  advanced  by  a  circuitous  route, 
the  South  Carolinians  in  fi'ont,  the  Seventeenth  on  their  left  and 
the  Eighteenth  on  their  right,  and  took  up  a  position  on  the  hill 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  batter}',  llei'c,  before  the  Eigh- 
teenth were  completelj'  formed,  the  battery  opened  upon  the 
brigade  a  heav}'  fire  of  grape,  canister  and  musketry.  The 
South  Carolinians  were  ordered  to  advance,  and  the}*  made  an 
impetuous  charge  across  a  field  about  three  hundred  yards  in 
length.  This  brougiit  them  to  the  edge  of  an  exceedingly 
dense  thicket,  which  covered  the  declivity  of  the  hill,  but  our 
boys  gallantly  continued  theii'  way  under  a  galling  storm  of 
musketry,  shell  and  grajie,  which  the  enemy  directed  into  their 
midst  from  the  brow  of  a  neighboring  hill,  until  the  latter  were 
forced  to  retreat,  first  under  cover  of  their  batter}-,  and  finally 
to  a  neighboring  ravine. 

Now  comes  the  most  unfoi'tunate  ])art  of  the  whole  atfair. 
Col.  Jeidvins  and  his  command  had  charged  so  rapidly  over  the 
hill  that  when  the  Mississippians  on  the  left  and  right  came 
around  the  ravine,  and  saw  the  Carolinians  rushing  on,  they 
mistook  them  for  retreating  Yankees,  and  at  the  distance  of 
only  one  hundred  yards  opened  a  tremendous  fire.  Here  most 
of  our  men  fell.  The  musketry  continued  until  we  got  out  of 
their  reach.  It  is  due  to  them,  however  to  say  tliat  their 
officers,  recognizing  the  South  Carolinians,  from  their  uniforms 
and  flags,  threw  themselves  •  in  front  of  their  men,  and  at  the 
risk  of  their  lives  endeavored  to  stop  their  firing.  The  Eigh- 
teenth Regiment  also  fired  upon  the  Seventeenth,  and  notwith- 
standing that  both  Carolinians  and  Mississippians  threw  up 
their  hands  and  gave  the  signal  of  the  day,  it  was  impossible  to 
restrain  the  terrible  discharge  of  musketr}-  which  continued. 

By  the  time  the  Carolinians  got  out  of  the  range  of  this  un- 
expected fire  they  were  within  four  hundred  yards  of  the 
enem^-'s  artillery,  which  sent  grape  and  canister  flying  over 
their  heads.  Meanwhile  the  Mississippians  discovering  their 
mistake,  and  being  in  some  confusion,  withdrew  from  the 
ground.  Finding  that  he  was  thus  totally  unsupported,  the 
other  regiments  composing  the  brigade  having  left  him,  and 
after  having  sent  several  couriers  to  General  Jones,  Avithout 
response.  Colonel  Jenkins  determined  to  retire.  He  according- 
ly threw  two  companies  upon  tbe  brow  of  the  hill  to  protect 
his  retreat,  and  then  slowly  and  in  good  order  withdrew  his 
command. 

Colonel  Jenkins  exhibited  the  greatest  gallantry  throughout 
the  action,  and  considering  that  the  Mississippians  made  him 
their  especial  mark,  it  is  a  miracle  that  he  escaped.  His  stirrup 
was  struck  by  a  bullet,  and  the  balls  whistled  around  him  in  a 
shower. 


24 

Within  a  few  moments  after  his  retreat  the  enemy  deserted 
their  guns  and  likewise  retired,  prohably  undep  the  ajiprehen- 
sion  that  we  had  fallen  hack  to  renew  the  charge,  and  it  is  sup- 
})()sed  did  not  return,  as  they  left  upon  the  ground  a  large 
amount  of  luggage.  There  is  no  doubt  that  had  the  attack 
been  continued  we  should  have  completely  routed  the  enemy, 
captured  the  batter}'  at  that  time,  and  have  produced  a  totally 
different  result  from  that  which  took  place. 

The  advance  of  the  Carolinians  was  one  of  the  bravest  and 
boldest  moven'ients  made  during  the  day.  The  discipline  was 
admirable.  Ever}"  man  apjieared  as  cool  and  determined  as  if 
upon  an  evening  review,  and  not  a  foot  was  stirred  in  i-etreat 
until  the  order  was  given  b}'  Col.  Jenkins,  when  it  was  reluc- 
tantly obeyed.  AYlien  the  new^s  was  imparted  to  President 
Davis,  he  ])aid  them  the  high  compliment  of  saying  that  "none 
but  Carolinians  would  have  made  such  a  char<re." 


THE    EN(JA(iEMENT    ON    OUR    CENTRE. 

Col.  Williams'  Third  Kegiinent,  Col.  Bacon's  Seventh,  to- 
gether with  Col.  Kirkland's  North  Carolina  and  Col.  Kelley's 
Louisiana  Regiments,  constituted  the  centre  of  the  general  line, 
and  held  Mitchell's  Ford,  on  the  direct  line  from  Fairfax  Court 
House  to  Manassas.  These  regiments  were  under  a  cannonade 
from  sunrise  until  near  sunset,  but  being  entrenched  they  suf- 
fered but  little.  Just  before  sundown,  antl  when  the  right  of 
the  enemy  gave  way,  they  were  ordered  to  charge  the  batteries 
in  their  front,  which  they  executed  in  a  gallant  style,  led  by 
Gen.  Bonham  in  person.  AVhen  the  charge  was  nuule,  the  ene- 
my prom])tly  retired,  and  the  loss  of  those  I'cgiments  was  small. 
Tliey  pursued  the  enemy  to  Centreville,  and  took  near  one  mil- 
lion dollars'  worth  of  Federal  property.  It  is  believed  that 
none  in  those  regiments  were  killed,  and  but  few  wounded. 

ARRIVAL    OF    THE    PRESIDENT. 

At  about  five  o'clock,  we  heard  cheer  upon  cheer,  and  the 
word  "Davis"  ran  along  the  ranks,  and  we  saw  in  the  distance 
the  tall,  slender  form  of  our  gallant  President,  who  had  arrived 
upon  the  field  in  time  to  see  the  total  rout  of  the  army  which 
thi"eatencd  his  capture,  and  the  subjugation  of  the  .South. 

The  President  left  Jliclnuond  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  reached  Manasstis  Junction  at  four,  where,  mounting  a  horse, 
accompanied  by  Colonel  Joseph  ll.  Davis,  and  numerous  atten- 
dants, he  galloped  to  the  battle  field.  The  sight,  of  itself,  was 
worth  the  fatigue  of  the  day's  journey.  Wo  saw  the  poor 
wounded  soldiers  on  the  roadside  and  in  the  fields,  when  they 
observed  the  President's  manly  form  pass  by,  raise  their  heads, 
and  heard  them  give  shout  upon  shout  and  cheer  upon  cheer. 


^o 


THE  PURSUIT. 


After  the  enemy's  right  began  the  retreat,  caused  mainly  by 
(he  timely  and  impetuous  charge  of  the  Second  and  Eiglith  Pal- 
metto Ilegiments,  an  order  was  received  from  Gen.  Beauregard, 
not  to  engage  the  enem^-,  should  he  form  again,  without  rein- 
forcements. Such  as  could  be  had  were  now  hurried  up.  He 
inspected  the  divi.sion  thus  increased,  consisting  of  .the  Second 
and  iMghth  South  Carolina  Eegiments.  the  shattered  remnants 
of  Hampton's  Legion,  about  one  hundred  and  tifty  strong, 
whom  we  had  rescued  (what  with  the  killed,  wounded,  and 
those  attending  them,  few  were  left  in  the  field),  and  one  com- 
pany-— parti}-  of  Marylanders.  and  partly  of  Crescent  Blues  of 
New  Orleans.  Kemper's  Battery  had  not  been  able  to  keep  up 
with  us  in  the  flight  of  the  enen:iy  and  our  rapid  pursuit,  for 
Avant  of  horses.  Ten  minutes  we  halted,  until  joined  by  ano- 
ther small  .  regiment — Preston's  Virginians,  I  believe — then 
moved  on  in  the  chase.  Tavo  miles  further  on,  the  cavalry 
joined  us;  but  finding  the  enemy  posted  on  a  hill,  with  artillery 
covering  the  road,  we  threw  out  skirmishers,  and  formed  in  line 
of  baitie.  But  the  Yankees  after  firing  a  fcAv  cannon  shot  and 
Minnie  balls,  again  fell  back.  On  we  went,  and  Kemper  having 
now  overtaken  us,  wc  deployed,  and  allowed  him  to  unliinber 
and  give  them  two  or  thi-ee  good  rounds,  which  completely 
routed  the  Yankee  column  again. 

THE  ROUT. 

The  rout  Avas  complete.  A  panic  seized  upon  the  flying 
troops,  and  CA-erything  that  could  impede  progress  Avas  throAvn 
by  the  wayside,  to  be  picked  up  as  tro|>hies  b}-  our  victorious 
troops.  For  miles  the  road  to  Centreville  Avas  sti-CAvn  Avith 
caps,  shoes,  equipments,  guns,  knapsacks,  blankets  by  the 
thousands,  ammunition,  and  ever}-  other  conceiA-able  article  in- 
cident to  army  operations.  Gen.  McGoAvan  says  no  one  Avho 
had  not  Avitnessed  it  could  form  any  idea  of  the  scene.  There 
were  no  regiments,  no  companies;  it  Avas  one  confused  and  com- 
pact mass  of  flying  men.  As  our  cavalry  overtook  them  they 
surrendered  in  bodies  of  twenty,  thirty,  fifty,  and  so  on,  and 
Avhile  these  Avere  secured  and  sent  to  the  rear,  the  others  scat- 
tered right  and  left  in  the  Avoods,  to  return  again  in  the  roads 
as  opjiort unity  olfered. 

On  arriving  at  Centreville,  an  eff'ort  Avas  made  by  some  of  the 
officers  to  rall\'  the  troops  and  give  fight  to  our  approaching 
forces  ;  but  one  of  the  latter  suddenly'  shouted  ''  the  Virginia 
caA-ahy  is  coming,"  and  the  Avhole  detachment  that  had  halted 
again  took  to  their  heels. 

At  Henderson  they  had  a  reserve  of  ten  thousand  men,  and 
an  attempt  Avas  made  there  to  rally,  but  a  cry  Avas  raised  that 
the  dragoons  were  coming,  and,  seized  b}'  a  neAv  panic,  another 


26 

stampede  commenced,  to  avIucIi  tlie  reserve  added  a  new  mo- 
mentum and  additional  terrors.  In  a  word,  to  paint  the  scene 
is  said  to  1»e  imjiossilile.  At  Henderson,  many  of  our  men, 
nearly  all  in  fact,  laid  down  exhausted.  ^Fany  had  eaten  noth- 
in</;  since  the  day  before,  and  all  of  them  had  been  in  ac^tion 
since  day  dawn.  The  cavalry  jiursued  the  retreatiui;-  rabble 
and  hewed  them  down  and  tramjded  them  under  foot  like  nox- 
ious weed.s, 'by  hundreds  and  hundreds.  The  entire  road  from 
Fairfax  to  Alexandria  was  strewn  with  the  waifs  of  a  routed 
army.  We  captured  five  hundred  wagons,  a  very  large  number 
of  tiie  finest  ambulances,  ])rivate  carriages  brought  down  by 
curious  friends,  who  came  to  witness  a  Federal  victory,  im- 
mense quantities  of  ammunition,  thirty  thousand  of  the  best 
small  arms  in  boxes,  wliicii  had  never  been  oj^ened,  man}'  cases 
of  surgical  instruments  and  valuable  medical  chests,  together 
with  an  almost  incalculable  amount  of  Commissary  stores. 

At  Centreville,  where  they  had  a  s])lendid  dinner  pi-epared, 
they  were  obliged  to  leave  before  eating  it  One  of  the  ladies, 
in  her  haste  to  get  into  the  carriage,  fell  and  broke  her  leg,  and 
was  lifted  into  it  with  her  leg  hanging.  An  nnfinished  letter 
Avas  left  lying  on  a  table  there  from  some  gentleman  to  his 
wife,  in  which  he  told  her  to  direct  her  next  letter  to  him  in 
Richmond,  Va.  The  feeling  with  all  seemed  to  have  been  that 
they  had  nothing  to  do  but  come  forwai'd  in  triumphal  proces- 
eession  to  our  capital,  and  take  possession  of  it. 

INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BATTLE. 

Tlie  Washington  Artillery,  wlio  had  drawn  their  guns  up  the 
hill  and  in  front  of  the  house  known  as  Mr.  Lewis' — Genei-al 
Cocke's  and  General  Johnston's,  headquarters,  and  which  was 
riddled  with  shot — commanded  by  Major  J.  B.  AValton  in  ])er- 
son,  gave  the  retreating  enemy  a  parting  salute.  Observ- 
ing the  carriage  of  a  gun  some  two  miles  off,  he  gave  the  order 
for  another  fire,  and  Lieutenant  Bearing  pointed  tbe  piece 
Before  the  ball  had  well  reached  the  point  aimed  at,  a  whole 
regiment  of  the  enemy  appeared  in  sight,  going  at  ''double 
quick"  down  the  Centreville  road.  Major  Walton  immediately 
ordered  another  shot  "to  help  them  along,"  as  he  said,  and  two 
were  sent  without  delay  right  at  them.  There  was  no  obstruc- 
tion and  the  whole  front  of  the  regiment  was  exposed.  One 
halfwei-e  seen  to  fall,  and  if  (Jen.  Johnston  had  not  at  that  mo- 
ment sent  an  aid  to  Major  Walton,  with  the  order  to  cease  fir- 
ing, nearly  the  whole  I'egiment  would  have  been  killed. 

There  was  a  constant  struggle  during  the  da}'  over  the  ene- 
mj^'s  batteries.  Time  and  again  were  they  captured  by  our 
men,  and  very  often  retaken  by  the  enemy.  The  most  excited 
creature  on  the  battle  field  was  the  Kev.  Mr.  Repetto,  Captain 
of  the  Page  County  (Va.)  Grays,  who  claimed  the  honor  of  tak- 
ing  Rickett's  (Sherman's)    Battery.     Of  his  whole    compau}', 


27 

nearly  one  hundred  strong-,  he  had  onl}"  eighteen  uninjured 
Another  of  our  Eeverends,  Col.  Pendleton,  a  graduate  of  West 
Point,  a  resident  of  Lexington,  Virginia,  and  an  Episcopalian 
Minister,  was  quite  bus}'  during  the  day,  and  doubtless  did  more 
than  any  one  else  to  check  the  advancing  enemy.  The  inquiry 
among  the  prisoners  was  very  general,  "  who  the  dkvil  com- 
manded that  battery  on  the  left,  that  killed  so  many  of  our 
men?"     Our  repl}'  was,  that  it  was  a  Saint,  named  Pendleton. 

REFLECTIONS  UPON  THE  BATTLE. 

Thus  did  fifteen  thousand  men,  with  eighteen  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, drive  back  ingloriousl}-  a  force  exceeding  thirty-five  thou- 
sand, sujiported  by  nearly  a  hundred  pieces  of  cannon.  I 
believe  the  official  reports  will  sustain  me  in  the  assertion  that 
Gen.  Beauregard  did  not  bi-ing  more  than  fifteen  thousand  men 
into  the  action.  The  total  force  under  Oi en.  I\[cDowell  was  over 
fifty  thousand,  but  thirty-five  thousand  will  probal)ly  cover  the 
force  in  action  at  the  Stone  Bridge. 

The  credit  is  accorded  them  that  the}^  fought  well  and  long, 
but  their  cause  was  bad — they  were  on  soil  not  their  own, 
and  they  met  their  equals  who  Avere  fighting  in  defence  of  their 
homes,  their  liberty  and  their  honor. 

The  scene  of  carnage  was  beyond  description.  Here  a  pile 
of  dead  and  dying  men;  there  struggling,  crippled  horses;  and 
over  the  surface  of  the  hitherto  peaceful  fields  the  surging, 
angry  Avaves  of  battle  still  adding  its  victims  to  the  long  list. 
Our  light  artillery  batteries  seem  to  have  been  more  tlian  a 
match  for  the  rifled  cannon  at  the  short  distance,  for  our  guns 
would  be  fired  three  or  four  times  to  their  once. 

The  despatch  of  President  Davis  to  Mrs.  Davis  sums  up  the 
results  of  the  battle  of  this  most  eventful  day  in  a  few  words: 
''We  have  won  a  glorious  but  dear  bought  victory.  The  night 
closed  with  the  enemy  in  full  flight,  pursued  by  our  troops." 

Upon  each  side  the  picture  presents  an  entire  contrast.  Calm 
and  confident  our  soldiers  have  consigned  to  the  grave  their 
fallen  comrades,  and  buried  also  the  enemj-'s  dead,  left  without 
sepulture  on  the  field.  They  have  sent  in  no  flag  of  truce,  be- 
cause they  fouiul  it  Avould  not  be  respected  for  two  reasons : 
first,  the}-  basely  prostituted  its  privilege  on  Friday  before,  by 
throAving  up  breastworks  while  ostensibly  burying  their  dead, 
and  second,  because  in  the  battle  on  Sunday,  a  New  York  regi- 
ment displayed  our  flag  and  answered  our  friendly  signal  until 
within  a  very  short  distance  of  the  Fourth  Alabama  regiment, 
and  then  poured  a  deadly  volley  into  its  ranks.  For  a  moment 
the  Alabamians  were  confused  by  the  execution  in  their  ranks, 
but  they  quickly  rallied,  and  charged  upon  the  renegades,  re- 
turned the  fire  and  put  them  to  flight  among  the  bushes.  A 
similar  deception  was  practiced  upon  the  Hampton  Legion  with 
a  similar  result — the  enemy  in  this  case  being  Ellsworth's  Fire 


28 

Zouaves — otherwise  known  as  tlic  "  Pet  r.:nnlis."'  but  a  field 
yet  covered  witli  dead  and  luanifled  forms  tells  the  tale  of  the 
terrible  retribution  which  followi'd. 

The  enemy,  by  some  means,  had  also  possessed  themselves  of 
our  countersi<i;n,  password,  and  a  peculiar  motion  of  the  hand 
which  was  intended  as  a  mark  of  recognition  among  our  troops, 
and  many  a  brave  fellow  was  made  to  bite  the  dust  by  contiding 
in  those  who  approached  thus  protected  in  the  ciruractcr  of 
friends.  Various  styles  of  badges  had  been  adopted  to  distin- 
guish our  soldiers  from  those  of  the  enemy,  but  in  evei-y  in- 
stance the  peculiar  desire  was  communicated  to  the  Federalists, 
and  being  imitated,  resulted  in  more  harm  than  good. 

Another  plan  of  deception  was  adopted  by  the  Yankees. 
Squads  of  them  M'ould  get  into  the  edge  of  the  dense  wood  and 
undergrowth,  and  from  that  concealed  position  shoot  our  men, 
and  then  fall  back  motionless  as  if  dead.  The  trick  was  ilis- 
covered  by  a  couple  of  South  Carolinians,  however,  just  as  one 
of  the  scamjis  was  in  the  act  of  tiring,  and  he  met  the  fate  he 
deserved.  A  number  of  other  apparently  dead  bodies  lying  in 
the  vicinity  attracted  the  attention  of  our  boys  and  making  an 
examination  they  discovered  no  less  than  a  half  dozen  of  the 
cowardly  dogs  picking  off  our  men  at  every  shot.  They  begged 
for  meixy,  but  the  incensed  Carolinians  sent  ilioir  souls  into 
eternity  without  compunction  ori-emorse. 

The  meanness  and  barbarity  of  our  foes  becomes  more  a))- 
parent  the  more  we  investigate  their  conduct.  Thirty  thousand 
pair  of  hand-cutts  avci'c  found  in  the  baggage  wagons,  which 
were  on  their  waj^  to  Richmond.  If  they  expect  to  overcome 
us,  they  must  set  their  smiths  at  work  at  once,  for  tliej^  will 
need  millions  of  pairs,  not  thousands.  The_y  will  be  obliged  to 
use  them  even  on  our  children,  for  there  is  scarcely  a  two  years' 
old  boy  among  us  who  does  not  know  how  to  tire  a  gun,  and 
would  be  found  willing  to  do  it  in  defence  of  our  rights. 

HONORABLE    MENTION. 

It  would  be  idle  to  attempt  to  a])[)or(ion  the  credit  of  the 
day  among  our  able  and  consummate  (xenerals.  The  first 
jiraise  is  due  to  Gen.  Beauregard,  who  planned  the  defence,  and 
prepared  so  admirably  and  com])Ietely  the  fortune  that  was 
won.  Each  division  of  our  gallant  army  did  its  duty,  its  whole 
duty,  without  faulter  or  default.  The  ))lan  of  battle  chosen  by 
the  enemy  forced  the  heavy  fighting  upon  Johnston's  commantl, 
who  met  the  danger  and  fought  the  good  fight,  as  their  country 
expected  them  to  do.  To  say  "well  done,  brave  and  fiiithful 
soldiers,"  is  to  give  ex])ression  to  the  language  of  every  heart 
and  tongue.  Ever}?-  soldier  and  every  officer  did  his  dut}',  and 
henceforward,  through  all  time,  it  will  be  the  highest  pride  of 
ever}'  man  in  that  gallant  arm}'  to  say  that  he  was  at  Manassas 
on  the  21st  of  July. 

In  token  of  the  \uis\\  esteem  in  which  our  President  held  the 


29 

gallantry  and  services  of  Gen.  Beauregard,  he   addressed  him 
the  following  hotter,  written  the  evening  after  the  battle  : 

3IANASSAS,  Ya.,  July  21,  18G1. 

Sir  : — A])])reciating  your  services  in  the  battle  of  Manassas, 
and  on  several  other  occasions  during  the  existing  war,  as 
affording  the  highest  evidence  of  your  skill  as  a  commander, 
3'our  gallantly  as  a  soldier,  and  your  zeal  as  a  patriot,  you  are 
promoted  to  be  General  in  the  Arm}-  of  the  Confederate  States 
of  America,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Congress  will  be  duly 
commissioned  accordinglv.  Yours,  etc., 

JEFF.   DAYIS. 

Gen.  G.  T.  Beauregard. 

THE  NEWS  OF  THE  BATTLE  IN  CONGRESS. 

At  Bichmond.  on  ]\ronday,  the  following  dispatch,  dated  at 
Manassas.  .Sunday  night,  was  read  by  the  Clerk  of  Congress: 

To  S.  Cooper,  A<ijutant  General  C.  S.  A.: 

Kight  has  closed  upon  a  hard  fought  field.  Our  foix-es  have 
won  a  glorious  victory.  The  enemy  was  routed  and  fied  pre- 
cipitatelv,  abandoning  a  large  amount  of  arms,  ammunition, 
knapsacks  and  baggage.  The  ground  Avas  strewn  for  miles 
with  those  killed,  and  the  farm  houses  and  the  grounds  around 
were  filled  with  his  wounded.  The  pursuit  was  continued  along 
several  routes  towards  Leesburg  and  Centrcn-ille,  until  dark- 
ness covered  the  fugitives.  We  have  captured  several  field  bat- 
teries, a  regimental  stand  of  colors,  and  one  United  States  flag. 
Many  prisoners  have  been  taken. 

Too  high  praise  cannot  be  bestowed,  whether  for  the  skill  of 
the  princi])al  officers  or  for  the  gallantr}-  of  all  the  troops. 
The  battle  was  mainly  fought  on  our  left,  several  miles  from 
our  field  fortifications.  Our  force  was  fifteen  thousand;  that 
of  the  enemy  is  estimated  at  thirtv-five  thousand. 

Signed,  ^  JEFF.  DAYIS. 

The  following  resolutions  were  ofiercd  by  Mr.  Memminger: 
Fe.'iolrefl.  That  we  recognize  the  hand  of  Most  High  God, 
the  King  of  Kings  and  the  Lord  of  Lords,  in  the  glorious  vic- 
toiy  with  which  He  hath  crowned  our  army  at  Manassas,  and 
that  the  people  of  these  Confederate  States  are  invitecl,  by 
appro])riate  services  on  the  ensuing  Sabbath,  to  ofter  up  their 
united  thanksgiving  and  praise  for  this  might}'  deliverance. 

Eesolvcd,  That  deepl}'  deploring  the  necessity  which  has 
marked  the  soil  of  our  countr}-  with  the  blood  of  so  many  of 
her  noblest  sons,  we  offer  to  their  respective  families  and  friends 
our  warmest  and  most  cordial  SA^mpathy,  assuring  them  that 
the  sacrifice  made  will  be  consecrated  in  the  hearts  of  our  peo- 
ple, and  will  there  enshrine  the  names  of  the  gallant  dead  as 
the  champions  of  free  and  constitutional  liberty. 


30 

NORTHERN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GREAT  ROUT. 


The  correspondent  of  the  New  York  World  (a  Eopublican 
paper),  gives  the  following  aecount  of  the  retreat  of  the  "  Cirand 
Army."  lie  says:  Is  ear  four  o'cloc^  1  rode  forward  througli 
the  open  plain  to  the  creek  where  the  abattis  was  being  assailed 
b}'  our  engineers.  The  Ohio,  Connecticut  and  Minnesota  Eegi- 
ments  were  variouslj'  posted  thereabout;  others  were  in  dis- 
tant portions  of  the  field ;  all  were  completely  exhausted  and 
partly  dissevered ;  no  General  of  division,  except  IVlcr,  could 
be  found.  Where  were  our  officers?  Where  was  the  foe? 
Who  knew  whether  we  had  won  or  lost  ? 

The  question  was  quickly  to  be  decided  for  us.  A  sudden 
swoop  and  a  body  of  cavalry  rushed  down  ui)<)n  our  columns 
near  the  bridge.  They  came  from  the  woods  on  the  left,  and 
in+antry  poured  out  behind  them.  Tyler  and  his  staff",  with  the 
reserve,  were  apparently  cut  off  by  the  quick  maiianivre.  1 
succeeded  in  gainiug  the  position  1  had  just  left,  there  wit- 
nessed the  capture  of  C'arlisle's  batteiy  in  the  plain,  and  saw 
another  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry  pouring  into  the  road  at 
the  ver}'  spot  where  the  battle  had  commenced,  and  near  which 
the  South  Carolinians,  who  manned  the  battery  silenced  in  the 
morning,  had,  doubtless,  all  day  been  lying  concealed. 

The  ambulances  and  wagons  gi'aduall}' advanced  to  this  spot, 
and,  of  course,  an  instantaneous  confusion  and  dismay  resulted. 
Our  own  infantry  broke  ranks  in  the  field,  plunged  into  the 
woods  to  avoid  the  road,  and  got  up  the  hill  as  best  they  could, 
without  leaders,  every  man  saving  himself  in  his  own  way. 

By  the  time  1  reached  the  toj)  of  the  hill,  the  retreat,  the 
l^anic,  the  heedless,  headlong  confusion  Avas  now  beyond  a 
hope.  I  was  near  the  rear  of  the  movement,  with  the  brave 
Capt.  Alexander,  who  endeavored,  by  the  most  gallant,  but 
unavailable  exertions,  to  check  the  onward  tumult.  It  was 
difficult  to  believe  in  the  reality  of  our  sudden  reverse.  "  What 
does  it  all  mean  ?"  1  asked  of  Alexander.  "  It  nieaiis  defeat," 
was  his  reply.  "  We  are  beaten  ;  it  is  a  shameful,  a  cowardly 
reti-eat !  Hold  up,  men  !"  he  shouted,  "  don't  be  such  infernal 
cowards  I"  and  he  rode  backwards  and  forwards,  placing  his 
horse  across  the  road,  and  vainly  trying  to  rally  the  running- 
troops.  The  teams  and  wagons  confused  and  dismembered 
every  corps. 

We  were  now  cut  off  from  the  advance  body  b}'  the  enemy's 
infanti-y,  who  had  rushed  on  the  slope  just  left  b}-  us,  surround- 
ed the  guns  and  sutler's  wagons,  and  were  apparently  pressing 
up  against  us.  "  It's  no  use,  Alexander,"  1  said,  "you  must 
leave  with  the  rest."  "I'll  be  d — d  if  I  will,"  was  his  sullen 
reply,  and  the  splendid  fellow  rode  back  to  make  his  way  as 
best  he  could.     Meantime  1  saw  officers  with  leaves  and  eagles 


31 

on  their  shoulder  straps,  Majors  and  Colonels,  who  had  deserted 
their  comi'ades,  pass  me  i^alloping  as  if  for  dear  life.  No  enemy 
pursued  just  then  ;  but  I  su])])ose  all  wei-e  afraid  that  his  guns 
would  he  trained  down  the  long,  narrow  avenue,  and  mow  the 
retreating  thousands,  and  batter  to  pieces  arm}'  wagons  and 
everything  else  which  crowded  it. 

But  what  a  scene!  and  how  terrific  the  onset  of  that  tumult- 
uous retreat  I  For  three  miles  hosts  of  Federal  troops — all 
detached  from  their  regiments,  all  mingled  in  one  disorderly- 
rout — were  fleeing  along  the  i-oad,  but  mostl}'  through  the  loss 
on  either  side.  Army  wagons,  sutler's  teams  and  private  car- 
riages choaked  the  passage,  tumbling  against  each  other,  amid 
clouds  of  dust,  and  sickening  sights  and  sounds.  Hacks,  con- 
taining unlucky  spectatoi-s  of  the  late  atfray,  Avere  smashed  like 
glass,  and  the  occupants  were  lost  sight  of  in  the  debris.  Horses, 
fiA'ing  wildly  from  the  battle-field,  many  of  them  in  death 
agony,  galloped  at  random  forward,  joining  in  the  stampede. 
Those  on  foot  who  could  catch  them  rode  them  bareback,  as 
much  to  save  themselves  from  being  run  over  as  to  make  q^iick- 
er  time. 

Wounded  men  lying  along  the  banks — the  few  either  left  on 
the  field  nor  taken  to  the  captured  hospitals,  appealed,  with 
raised  hands,  to  those  who  rode  horses,  begging  to  be  lifted  be- 
hind ;  but  few  regarded  such  petitions.  Then  the  artillery, 
such  as  was  saved,  eame  thundering  along,  smashing  and  over- 
powering everAthiug.  The  regular  cavalry,!  record  it  to  their 
shame,  joined  in  the  melee,  atlding  to  its  terrors,  for  the}'  rode 
down  footmen  without  mercy.  One  of  the  great  guns  was 
overturned,  and  lay  amid  the  ruins  of  a  caisson,  as  I  passed  it. 
I  saw  an  artilleryman  running  between  the  ponderous  fore  and 
after  wheels,  of  his  gun-carriage,  hanging  on  with  both  hands 
and  vainl}'  striving  to  jump  upon  the  ordnance.  The  drivers 
were  spurring  the  horses;  he  could  not  cling  much  longer,  and 
a  more  agonizing  expression  never  fixed  the  features  of  a  drown- 
ing man.  The  carriage  bounded  from  the  roughness  of  a  steep 
hill  leading  to  a  creek;  he  lost  his  hold,  fell,  and  in  an  instant 
the  great  wheels  had  crushed  the  life  out  of  h'un. 

AVIio  ever  saw  such  a  flight.  Could  the  retreat  at  Borodino 
haA'c  exceeded  it  in  confusion  and  tumult?  I  think  not.  It 
did  not  slack  in  the  least  until  Centreville  was  reached.  There 
the  sight  of  the  reserve — Miles'  Brigade — formed  in  order  on 
the  hill,  seemed  somewhat  to  reassure  the  van.  But  still  the 
teams  and  foot  soldiers  pushed  on,  passing  their  own  camp  and 
heading  swiftly  for  the  distant  Potomac,  until  for  ten  miles  the 
road  over  Avhich  the  Grand  Army  had  so  lately  passed  south- 
ward, gay  with  unstained  banners,  and  flushed  with  surety  of 
strength,  was  covei-ed  with  the  fragments  of  its  retreating 
forces,  shattered  and  panic-stricken  in  a  single  day.  From  the 
branch  rout  the  trains  attached  to  Hunter's  Division  had  cauirht 


32 

"lie  contagion  of  the  flight,  and  poui*ed  into  its  alroa<ly  swollen 
turrcnt  another  turbid  freshet  of  confusion  and  dismay. 

Who  ever  saw  a  more  shameful  aliaiidonment  of  munitions 
gathered  at  such  vast  expense?  The  teamsters,  many  of  them, 
cut  the  traces  of  their  hoi-scs.  and  gallo]>ed  from  tlie  wagons. 
Others  threw  out  their  loads  to  accelerate  their  llight.  and 
grain,  ])iclcs  and  shovels,  and  provisions  of  every  kind,  lay 
tram]»led  in  the  dust  for  leagues.  Thousands  of  muskets  strewed 
the  route.  When  some  of  us  succeeded  in  rallying  a  ixxly  of 
fugitives,  and  forming  them  in  a  line  across  the  road,  hardly  one 
hut  had  thrown  away  his  arms.  If  the  enemy  had  brought  up 
his  artillerists,  and  served  upon  the  retreating  train,  or  had 
interce]>ted  our  progress  with  tive  hundred  of  his  cavalry,  he 
might  have  captured  enough  suj)plies  for  a  week's  feast  of, 
thanksgiving.  As  it  was,  enough  was  left  behind  to  tell  the 
story  of  the  panic.  The  rout  of  the  Federal  army  was 
complete. 

The  siglit  of  ]\riles'  reserve  di-awii  wj»  on  llir  hills  at  ("I'utre- 
villc.  sup])orting  a  full  l>attery  of  tield  ])ieces,  and  the  etioi'ts  of 
the  few  oHicers  still  faithful  to  their  trust,  encouraged  many  of 
the  fugitive  infantry  to  seek  their  old  camps  and  go  no  further. 
But  the  nuijority  jnished  on  to  a  })oint  near  the  late  site  of 
(rcrinantown,  where  Lieutenant  Brisbane  had  formed  a  line  of 
Hunt's  Artilkny  across  the  road,  and  rejiulsed  all  who  attempted 
to  break  through. 

While  he  was  thus  engaged,  a  courier  arrived  with  the  news 
that  Colonel  Montgomeiy  was  advancing  with  a  New  Jersey 
Brigade  from  Falls  Cluirch,  and  that  the  retreat  must  be 
stopped,  only  the  wagons  being  aliowcil  to  pass  through.  Some 
thousands  of  the  soldiery  had  already  got  far  on  their  wa}'  to 
Washington.  These  were  those  from  whom  the  details  of  the 
re])ulse  were  gathered  this  moi'iiing.  Poor  fellows  I  who  could 
Ijlaine  them  ''.  Their  own  Colonels  had  deserted  them,  only 
leaving  orders  for  them  to  reach  Ai'lington  Heights  as  soon  as 
they  could. 

A  few  miles  further,  I  met  Montgomery  swiitly  jn-essing  to 
the  rescue,  and  reported  the  success  of  Lieut.  Brisbane's  efforts. 
And  so  1  i-ode  along,  as  well  as  my  wearied  horse  could  carry 
me,  past  groups  of  straggling  fugitives,  to  Fairfax,  where  Col. 
Woodbury  was  expecting  and  guarding  against  a  flank  move- 
ment of  the  enemy,  and  on  again  to  Long  Bridge  and  the  Poto- 
mac. But  the  van  of  the  runaway  soldiers  luul  made  such  time 
that  I  found  a  host  of  them  at  the  Jersey  entrenchments  begging 
the  sentinels  to  allow  them  to  cross  the  bridge.  To-day  we  learn 
of  the  safe  i-ctreat  of  the  main  body  of  the  army;  that  they 
were  feebl>'  followed  by  the  rebels  as  far  as  Fairfax;  but 
are  now  within  the  Ai-lington  lines,  and  that  3IcJ)owell,  a 
stunned  and  van(piished  (ieneral,  is  overlooking  the  wreck  of 
his  columns  from  his  old   quarters  at  the  Custis  mansion. 


